2023 Tax Filing Season Officially Starts January 23
For tax preparers, and their clients, the official start date to filing taxes has been set.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced that the 2023 tax filing season will officially begin on January 23, giving taxpayers nearly three months to file their taxes with confidence knowing the due date. This news marks an important step for anyone involved in preparing and submitting IRS forms – now it’s time to get planning!
This tax season is sure to be a busy one. Nearly 168 million individual Americans are expected to submit their returns before the April 18th deadline. Due to the calendar, taxpayers have been given an additional three days to file this year.
This extended filing deadline is set by law and moves ahead to accommodate both a weekend and the District of Columbia's Emancipation Day holiday that occurs in mid-April. Those who need more time can request an extension until October 16th.
Important dates for tax season
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January 17: Due date for tax year 2022 fourth quarter estimated tax payment.
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January 23: IRS begins 2023 tax season and starts accepting and processing individual 2022 tax returns.
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January 27: Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day to raise awareness of valuable tax credits available to many people – including the option to use prior-year income to qualify.
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April 18: National due date to file a 2022 tax return or request an extension and pay tax owed due to the Emancipation Day holiday in Washington, D.C.
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October 16: Due date to file for those requesting an extension on their 2022 tax returns.
The IRS recommends having all the necessary information before filing, reporting the correct amount of income, visiting IRS.gov for common questions and checking refund status, and filing electronically with direct deposit to speed up the refund process.
The IRS also emphasizes that call volumes are still high and recommends visiting IRS.gov for the information needed. The IRS plans to make significant improvements to phone service this year, but it is important to note that call volumes remain at historically high levels.
IRS Free File available January 13
IRS Free File will be available starting January 13, allowing taxpayers who made $73,000 or less in 2022 to file their taxes electronically for free using brand-name software provided by commercial tax filing companies.
Most refunds issued in less than 21 days; EITC refunds for many available starting February 28
The IRS anticipates most taxpayers will receive their refund within 21 days of when they file electronically, if they choose direct deposit and there are no issues with their tax return. Taxpayers should check Where's My Refund? on IRS.gov for their personalized refund status.
While the IRS will begin accepting returns January 23, the IRS cannot issue a refund that includes the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) before mid-February. This is due to the 2015 PATH Act law passed by Congress, which provides this additional time to help the IRS stop fraudulent refunds from being issued.
Where's My Refund? should show an updated status by February 18 for most early EITC/ACTC filers. The IRS expects most EITC/ACTC related refunds to be available in taxpayer bank accounts or on debit cards by February 28 if taxpayers chose direct deposit and there are no other issues with their tax return
Tools from the IRS
IRS.gov offers various online tools for taxpayers to use for filing and paying taxes, access personal tax account information, check refund status and get answers to tax questions. One of the tools is an IRS Online Account that allows individuals to securely view their balance, payments and tax records, including adjusted gross income. Additionally, the "Where's My Refund?" tool enables taxpayers to check the status of their refund within 24 hours of the IRS accepting their e-filed tax return, with updates made overnight.
