Montana Department of Revenue

Montana Unveils New QuickFile Option

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Montana Unveils New QuickFile Option

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The Montana Department of Revenue has released a new way for Montanans with simple taxes to file their 2019 state income tax returns online, quickly and for free.

MT QuickFile is now available for Montanans who:

  • Were full-year Montana residents in 2019;
  • Only have income documented on W-2, 1099-DIV or 1099-INT forms;
  • Are filing as single, head of household, or married filing jointly;
  • Are taking the standard deduction;
  • Are not claiming any tax credits (other than the Elderly Homeowner/Renter Credit.)

Montanans who meet all these criteria should check if they can use MT QuickFile with the Filing Options Quiz.

The department also reminds anyone filing a Montana state income tax return for the first time to keep their mailing address current with the Department of Revenue. The department will only issue refunds by U.S. Mail to first-time Montana filers.

Make Sure You Don’t Miss These Tax Credits

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As Montana residents file their 2019 income tax returns, they should be aware of two key tax credits that could reduce their state income tax or bring a larger refund, even for those who owe no tax at all.

Montana Earned Income Tax Credit New This Year

For most Montanans, it’s worth 3 percent of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, which about 75,000 Montanans already claim.

The Earned Income Tax Credit is aimed at low and middle-income workers, especially those with dependents. It’s refundable, which means that if the credit exceeds what’s owed in taxes, the difference is refunded to the taxpayer.

Learn more about the Montana Earned Income Tax Credit, or see the IRS EITC Assistant for more information about the federal EITC.

Montana Elderly Homeowner/Renter Credit

To qualify, the taxpayer must:

  • Have turned 62 or older in 2019;
  • Resided in Montana at least nine months of 2019.
  • Owned or rented their home for at least six months of 2019.
  • Have a total household income of $45,000 or less.

Learn more about the Motana Elderly Homeowner/Renter Credit.

Montana Earned Income Tax Credit

The Montana Earned Income Tax Credit is a refundable credit aimed at low- and middle-income workers.

Eligibility

You are eligible for this credit for Tax Year 2019 if you:

  • Were a Montana resident; and
  • Claimed the federal earned income tax credit on your federal income tax return.

See IRS EITC Assistant for more information about the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.

Benefit

For most people in Montana, the state Earned Income Tax Credit is worth 3 percent of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit claimed.

The credit is refundable, meaning that if it exceeds the total amount of taxes you owe, you will receive the difference.

Forms

To claim the credit, follow the instructions in your approved tax-preparation software or complete the Montana Individual Income Tax Return (Form 2).

For more information on how to qualify for the federal EITC, check the IRS EITC Assistant.

Related Laws

15-30-2318, MCA

Find Your Filing Options

We will ask you questions about your income tax return. Based on your answers, we will provide a list of tax preparation services you may qualify for.

You are under no obligation to use these options.

You answers are anonymous and cannot be connected to your filed tax return in any way.

If you would rather evaluate your filing options on our own, you can see our Filing Options.

Learn About Selecting a Filing Status

1. What is your filing status?

Are you and your spouse filing together or separately?

Learn About Income Tax Deductions

2. Are you using an itemized or standard deduction?

Learn About Montana Residency

3. Do you live in Montana?

Learn About Montana Military Service Tax Impacts

4. Are you serving active duty in the military?

Learn about Montana Income Tax Credits

5. Are you claiming any tax credits?

Which credits are you claiming?

Learn About Adjusted Gross Income

6. Provide information about your income.

Please enter your estimated FAGI: $

Which of the following income documents do you have?

Some Filing Options May Have Age Restrictions

7. Taxpayer Age

How old were you on ? 

Find Your Filing Options

MT QuickFile

MT QuickFile is a free option for Montana Taxpayers with simple returns provided by the Montana Department of Revenue.

MT QuickFile is available to taxpayers if:

  • They are filing single, head of househould, or married filing jointly.
  • They are claiming a standard deduction.
  • They are a full-time Montana resident.
  • They only have income to report on Forms W-2, 1099-INT, or 1099-DIV.
  • They are not claiming any credits other than the Montana Elderly Homeowner/Renter Credit.

You may use MT QuickFile to claim your Elderly Homeowner/Renter Credit.

However, if you do not also meet the criteria listed above, you may need to file an amended return.

File using MT QuickFile

Free File Alliance Member Offers

The Free File Alliance is a nonprofit coalition of industry-leading tax software companies partnered with Montana to help our taxpayers prepare and e-file their federal and state tax returns for free.

Based on your answers above, you may qualify for the following Free File Alliance Offers:

Approved Commercial Software

You may be able to file using Approved Individual Income Tax Software.

We only test software to ensure we can accept forms filed by the software. We are not associated with vendors and cannot guarantee any aspect of the software.

Learn more about software approval from the IRS.

File a paper Montana Income Tax Return (Form 2)

All taxpayers may choose to file a paper Montana Individual Income Tax Return (Form 2).

Please see the Montana Individual Income Tax Return (Form 2) Instructions for more information.

Please Note:

When filing with a paper form, please allow up to six weeks before checking your refund status using the Where’s My Refund.

Learn more about Individual Income Tax Refunds.

Tax Professionals

You can get help with your taxes from a qualified tax professional.

The IRS provides excellent resources for finding the best tax professional to help you.

MontanaFreeFile.org also provides a list of local free tax resources, including volunteers and tax professionals

Approved Pass-Through Entity Software

We have tested these software vendors and approved them for use submitting Montana Pass-Through Entity Tax Return.

We only test software to ensure we can accept forms filed by the software. We are not associated with vendors and cannot guarantee any aspect of the software.

Learn more about software approval from the IRS.

This does not mean that a software package includes every possible schedule or attachment, or that it will meet the needs of all filers. It is the filer’s responsibility to contact the provider to determine if the software meets their needs.

The providers below are not listed in any particular order.

If you need assistance with one of our online services, please email us at DORCustomerAssistance@mt.gov.

Tax Filing Assistance

There are several resources outside the department available to help you prepare your taxes:

Local Libraries
Many libraries throughout Montana offer Internet access. Check with your local library to learn if Internet access is available for filing your individual income tax returns.
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
VITA offers free tax help to low-to-moderate income (generally $42,000 and below) people who can’t prepare their own tax returns. Trained volunteers run VITA sites at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls, credit unions and so on. Most locations also offer free electronic filing.
Find VITA sites near you using the IRS VITA Location Tool.
MontanaFreeFile.org
MontanaFreeFile.org is a website designed to provide information on free electronic filing options. The website also contains a free tax preparation site locator. This service is provided by Montana’s credit unions, Montana Department of Revenue, Montana Legal Services Association, Opportunity Link Inc., and Rural Dynamics, Inc.
AARP Foundation
The AARP provides tax counseling for the elderly with free priority assistance services for all taxpayers 60 and older.
Find AARP Tax-Aide Locations using the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Locator tool.
IRS.gov
The IRS provides resources for choosing a tax preparer.

For other ways to file, see our Individual Filing Options.

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