The Illinois Department of Revenue is now accepting and processing tax returns filed electronically.

Illinois taxpayers who filed their federal tax returns have several options to file Illinois tax returns. The Illinois Department of Revenue's online filing system, WebFile, can be found at tax.illinois.gov. The site walks taxpayers through available options for credits and deductions and is available to Illinois tax filers.

Taxpayers also can file their state returns electronically, either through paid tax preparers or software. Low-income taxpayers and seniors can find filing assistance from a statewide list of volunteer tax professionals. A list can be found at tax.illinois.gov.

"The State of Illinois works with non-profit agencies to help low-income and senior filers so they can file early and get the biggest refunds to which they are entitled," said Illinois Department of Revenue Director Brian Hamer. "By filing their tax return electronically rather than mailing in a paper return, taxpayers can ensure that their refunds are issued as quickly as possible. Last year, almost 80 percent of taxpayers filed electronically."

State taxes filed electronically are processed quickly and direct deposit refunds are generally paid in about a week. Starting this year, taxpayers who use WebFile may instead opt to receive their Illinois refund on a debit card that eliminates check cashing fees for people without standard checking or savings accounts.

Taxpayers who received a refund on their Illinois taxes last year can log on to tax.illinois.gov to obtain an electronic copy of their 1099G which shows the amount of last year's tax refund that Illinois reports to the IRS.