Tax season 2022: what day does it start and until when can I send my documents?
Many workers who have begun to receive their W-2 forms from their employers are eager to submit their returns. Here are the details for when the IRS will begin processing.
Tax season is almost here and many are eager to get a jump start on their filing to quickly receive their refund. This may be a strategy to avoid delays, which the IRS expects millions to face as they struggle with a backlog of colossal scale.
The IRS will begin processing returns on 24 January, and after a challenging year, the agency has already warned that delays should be expected.
Getting a head start
Taxpayers can get a head start by filing their tax returns with tax software companies. While processing will not begin until the 24th, various tax software companies will begin accepting return information on the 18th.
Popular tax software
If you were one of the millions of people who didn't get one or both of the stimulus checks you may be able to claim the funds on your 2021 income tax statement. Those eligible to receive the reaming balance of the child tax credit will also be able to claim the benefit when submitting their refund.
Tax filing deadline
Individuals and corporations filing their 2021 tax returns will have until Monday 18 April 2022 to get the necessary forms filled out and turned in. Already, however, the IRS has extended the deadline for a few states that have experienced natural disasters that could make filing more difficult. The deadline for those in Kentucky was been moved to 16 May, and some of the households in Colorado impacted by the recent fires may be able to qualify for an extension as well.
The IRS urges taxpayers to file electronically with direct deposit as soon as they have the information they need to speed up returns. Much of the backlog the IRS is currently working through are paper returns that take much longer to process manually.
If more time is needed a filer can apply for an extension and push the filing due date back by six months, up to 15 October. You will need to submit an Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File US Individual Income Tax Return (Form 4868) by 18 April, 2022. The extension will give you more time to file but if you think you will owe taxes, you still need to pay the IRS the estimated amount of what you think you owe by 18 April, 2022.
Key filing dates:
- 24 January: IRS begins 2022 tax season. Individual tax returns begin being accepted and processing begins.
- 18 April: Deadline for filing 2021 tax returns and paying any money due.
- 18 & 19 (Maine and Masschusets) April: Final day to apply for tax filing extension
- 15 October: Deadline to file for those requesting an extension on their 2021 tax returns.
IRS Free File
Many people filing taxes in the US are eligible for a free program through the IRS. The IRS Free File program, which is a public-private partnership between the agency and the Free File Alliance, a group of tax preparation companies with online software.
About 70 percent of people filing taxes in the US can take advantage of the program. Even more, may be able to file through other programs that offer tax preparation services at little or no cost. To qualify for the IRS Free File program your annual gross income (AGI) in 2021 must be $73,000 or less.
The software generally includes step-by-step instructions and help for filers. To use the program, you must go through the IRS site, not directly to a tax preparer. Each partner has its own special offers, including some that offer free state tax returns.