Registration Process

• If you have never submitted an Ohio state tax return before, you'll need to fax documentation to the Ohio Department of Taxation that shows your birthday and your social security number or your taxpayer identification number. The department normally verifies and activates your registration status within one business day of receiving this information. If you have filed your state tax return in previous years, you'll still need to re-register with I-File each calendar year by providing your social security number and the password you created when registering for the first time.
  
  

Benefits

• You don't need to pay an additional fee to file your return through I-File, and you'll receive your refund within 10 business days if you use direct deposit or within 30 days if you request a mailed check. The I-File system allows you to save your work in case you can't complete your return in one sitting. The system gives you the option to print or save an electronic copy of your return for your records.
  
  

Drawbacks

• The Ohio I-File system does not support the filing of state returns for tax years prior to 2006. If you found a mistake on your return after submitting it through the I-File system, you have to file a paper amended return. The executor of a deceased taxpayer's estate can't use Ohio I-File, and the state does not allow individuals with certain filing statuses who claim more than 17 dependents to use the system, as of June 2011. If you owe less than $1.01 or have a refund totaling less than $1.01, the state will not require a tax payment or process an overpayment refund for you, according to the Ohio Department of Taxation.
  
  

Payment Considerations

• If you file your return through the I-File system prior to the due date and owe taxes, you may post-date an electronic check for the total amount due. However, you must post-date your check using the tax deadline date or a date prior to the deadline for the Ohio Department of Taxation to accept it as a payment method. The state also accepts all major credit cards, including American Express, to pay tax debt, as of June 2011.