As part of expanded taxpayer service efforts, nearly 250 IRS TACs around the country will extend their weekly office hours to give taxpayers additional time to get the help they need during the filing season. Tax refunds can also be deposited onto prepaid debit cards or through mobile payment apps, provided they have routing and account numbers. Taxpayers should confirm with the mobile app provider or financial institution which numbers to use when completing their tax return. The IRS’s Get Ready page on IRS.gov offers practical tips and resources to help taxpayers prepare. It highlights key updates and important steps for taxpayers to consider to make tax filing easier in 2025. The IRS announced the official start date for tax filing season as Monday, Jan. 27, 2025.
- Firm Forward is a guide for accounting firm leaders looking to add a global team to their business or have already done so.
- Get help from IRS customer service representatives through a live chat feature in English and Spanish.
- To report or to get more information on phishing, please send an email to email protected.
- The Treasury Department estimates that more than 30 million taxpayers will be eligible to use Direct File across the 25 states.
Report taxable income; don’t file before receiving key documents
- As the IRS continues its digital transformation, it’s making filing easier for taxpayers by providing new online tools as well as expanding and updating other digital tools.
- The program connects taxpayers with the agency’s trusted tax prep partners, which differs from the new Direct File program (mentioned below).
- IRS Free File allows those with income within a specific limit to file their federal income tax returns for free.
- The addition of save and draft allows for future capabilities, including the ability for multiple spouses to sign a form.
- It’s a vital tool for ensuring the safety of taxpayers’ personal and financial information.
Another education credit is the lifetime learning credit (LLC). Depending on your income, your filing status and number of dependents, the credit could save you anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars on your taxes. The closest things to magic words when it comes to taxes are deductions and credits. Both help you keep more money in your pocket instead of Uncle Sam’s, but in slightly different ways. Not sure whether you want to take the standard deduction or itemize?
- This is especially important for people who may receive various Forms 1099 from banks or other payers reporting unemployment compensation, dividends, pensions, annuities or retirement plan distributions.
- Taxpayers must select this information when updating their bank-account details rather than manually capturing them.
- This disciplined approach to organizing documents allows you as an individual taxpayer to make sure you’re following all the rules and getting the most money back.
- Just remember, a tax credit or deduction is never a reason to go out and make a purchase.
- But because the extension only applies to filing a tax return, taxpayers must still pay any taxes owed by the April 15 deadline.
Do more with an IRS Online Account
Will update overnight so there is no need to check the tool more than once a day. Taxpayers can also use the IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications to find trusted professionals. The IRS also reminds taxpayers that choosing someone tax season affiliated with a recognized national tax association is always a good option.
What Are Quarterly Taxes?
The IRS is once again working to provide taxpayers expanded help in-person through more hours at Taxpayer Assistance Centers nationwide. The IRS also will be focused on continuing high levels of service on its main taxpayer phone lines, with a goal of up to 85% level of service. This year, Direct File users can try a new chat bot to help guide them through the eligibility checker. Live chat will again be available in English and Spanish, https://www.selective-service.net/what-exactly-does-a-bookkeeper-do/ and users can opt into additional authentication and verification, which will allow customer service representatives to provide more information.
The agency also said it has expanded customer service efforts with the goal of reducing wait times, expanding operating hours for customer service centers and implementing a variety of online account tools. The 2025 tax filing season will begin Monday, Jan. 27, the Internal Revenue Service announced earlier this month. Tax season 2025 starts January Certified Public Accountant 27, and key filing and extension deadlines must be met to avoid penalties and ensure a smooth process. The most recent forms feature “save and draft” capabilities, which allow the taxpayer to start a form, save it and return to it later. The addition of save and draft allows for future capabilities, including the ability for multiple spouses to sign a form. Taxpayers residing in a federally declared disaster area may have additional time to file and pay federal taxes.
