The IRS has just announced plans that the 2013 tax season will begin on January 30, 2013 (a Wednesday if you’re wondering). This misses the previously set date of January 22, 2013, but given that Congress passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA) in 2013 when it should have passed it in 2012, a late start of only eight days is impressive. If we could just get Congress to get things done so quickly.

Starting on January 30, the IRS says more than 120 million households should be able to begin filing returns. Those households include people who are “affected by the late Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) patch as well as the three major ‘extender’ provisions for people claiming the state and local sales tax deduction, higher education tuition and fees deduction and educator expenses deduction.” For the rest of tax filers unable to file starting January 30, look to late February or into March to be able to submit a return. This group of tax filers includes people who claim the residential energy credits (Form 5695), depreciation and amortization (Form 4562), or general business credits (Form 3800). The IRS has posted a list of the forms that won’t be accepted until a later date at IRS.gov. It often happens that those in this tax filing group don’t file until later in the season anyway or they just go ahead and file an extension, so the delay in being able to file may not cause much of a delay at all.

The IRS does remind all of us that it will not process paper returns before the January 30th opening date, so there’s no rush to get that return finished and in the mail in the next couple of weeks. Also, paper filing is not the most efficient way to file. If you want your tax refund sooner you should e-file with the direct deposit option checked.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us here at Barnard Vogler & Co.