On January 11th, 2022, the Internal Revenue Service announced that the 2022 tax filing season will start Monday, January 24th, 2022. The IRS will begin accepting federal income tax returns electronically and by mail for the 2021 tax year on this date. This year marks the third tax season during the coronavirus pandemic. Like with the previous 2 years, the pandemic is expected to cause complexities with filing and delay the processing of returns. Delays will be especially long for those who file their returns by mail.
Because the COVID-19 Pandemic continues to create challenges, there are important steps the IRS says people can take to help ensure their tax return and refund don’t face extensive delays. “Filing electronically with direct deposit and avoiding a paper tax return is more important than ever this year”, comments the IRS Commissioner, Charles Retting. Furthermore, the IRS says “there is additional urgency of attention to those who received an Economic Impact Payment or an Advance Tax Credit last year”. Another important factor is to make sure the correct amount is reported because even relatively small discrepancies of Economic Impact Payments on record versus what is reported could cause significant delays”.
The good news? Most taxpayers will get an extra 3 days to file their taxes this year because several holidays (not all official), fall on April 15th. Passover, Good Friday, and Emancipation Day are all on the 15th of April in 2022. Subsequently, the due date to file and pay is Monday, April 18th, 2022. Taxpayers in Maine or Massachusetts have until April 19th, 2022, to file their returns due to the Patriots’ Day holiday in those states. Victims of tornados in Illinois, Tennessee, and Kentucky, as well as victims of wildfires in Colorado, will have until May 16th. Taxpayers who requested a timely extension will have until Monday, Oct. 17, 2022, to file, but payments are always due on “Tax Day”, (typically in mid-April), not on the extension date that’s often 6 months later.
To be abundantly clear: The fastest way to get your tax refund by far is to file early and file electronically. If you file by paper and drop it in the old-fashioned United States mail when you could have filed electronically, don’t be surprised when it takes you 5 to 10 months to get your refund… because it probably will. Avoid the long wait by filing electronically and having your refund direct deposited to your bank.
If you need assistance with your 2021 filing, with back taxes, or with any other tax issues give us a call at 919-916-1000 or fill out our online form. We have seasoned Tax Attorneys who can help!