Tips for Taxpayers to Make Filing Easier:
The IRS urges filers to follow these steps to avoid unnecessary delays in processing and issuance of refunds:
- File electronically and use direct deposit for the quickest refunds.
- Check IRS.gov for the latest tax information, including the latest on Economic Impact Payments. There is no need to call.
- For those who already received or may be eligible for stimulus payments, carefully review the guidelines for the Recovery Rebate Credit.
- Filers who automatically received the maximum refund amount do not need to include any information about their payments in their tax return.
- Filers who did not receive a payment or only received a partial payment may be eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2020 tax return. Tax preparation software, including IRS Free File, will help taxpayers figure the amount.
- Advance stimulus payments already received are not taxable, and
they do not reduce the taxpayer’s refund when they file their tax year 2020 federal return.
Key Filing Season Dates:
There are several important dates taxpayers should keep in mind for this year’s filing season:
- Jan. 15: IRS Free File opened and taxpayers could prepare their returns but actual transmission to the IRS was delayed until Feb. 12.
- Jan. 29: Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Awareness Day took place.
- Feb. 12: Tax year 2020 filing season opens. The IRS began accepting completed returns for processing.
- Feb. 22: IRS.gov made available the Where’s My Refund tool for those claiming EITC and Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), also known as PATH Act returns.
- Mar. 1-7: Tax refunds began arriving for those claiming EITC and ACTC for electronic filers with direct deposit whose tax returns have been approved.
- April 15: Deadline for filing 2020 tax returns without an extension request.
- Oct. 15: Deadline to file 2020 tax returns for those who requested an extension.
Tax Resources for Military Members, Veterans, and their Family Members:
The IRS has a variety of resources to help members of the military, veterans and their families navigate filing taxes while in the military.