Tax Tips: IRS announces Jan. 27 start to 2025 tax filing season; agency continues historic improvements to expand, enhance tools and filing options to help taxpayers
Free File program now open; Direct File available starting Jan. 27 for taxpayers in 25 states
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced that the nation’s 2025 tax season will start on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025, and will feature expanded and enhanced tools to help taxpayers as a result of the agency’s historic modernization efforts.
The IRS expects more than 140 million individual tax returns for tax year 2024 to be filed ahead of the Tuesday, April 15 federal deadline. More than half of all tax returns are expected to be filed this year with the help of a tax professional, and the IRS urges people to use a trusted tax pro to avoid potential scams and schemes.
The 2025 tax filing season will reflect continued IRS progress to modernize and add new tools and features to help taxpayers. Since last tax season, the improvements include more access to tax account information from text and voice virtual assistants, expanded features on the IRS Individual Online Account, more access to dozens of tax forms through cell phones and tablets and expanded alerts for scams and schemes that threaten taxpayers.
The IRS has also expanded features and availability of last year’s Direct File program. This year, Direct File will be available starting Jan. 27 to taxpayers in 25 states. In addition, the IRS Free File program opens today. Available only on IRS.gov, IRS Free File Guided Tax Software provides millions of taxpayers nationwide access to free software tools offered by trusted IRS Free File partners.
The IRS is also working to continue the success of the 2023 and 2024 tax filing seasons made possible with additional resources. The past two filing seasons saw levels of service at roughly 85% and wait times averaging less than 5 minutes on the main phone lines, as well as significant increases in the number of taxpayers served at Taxpayer Assistance Centers across the country. Based on the IRS’ current plan and funding levels, the agency will work to provide similar levels of performance on these key service metrics in the upcoming filing season.
“This has been a historic period of improvement for the IRS, and people will see additional tools and features to help them with filing their taxes this tax season,” said IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel. “These taxpayer-focused improvements we’ve done so far are important, but they are just the beginning of what the IRS needs to do. More can be done with continued investment in the nation’s tax system.”
The Get Ready page on IRS.gov highlights steps taxpayers can take now to streamline the filing process and the many resources available to interact with the IRS before, during and after filing their federal tax return.
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Tax Tips: Get ready for tax filing season 2025
As tax filing season approaches, the IRS Get Ready campaign reminds taxpayers of simple steps they can take now to get ready to file their 2024 federal tax returns. 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.
Access IRS Online Account for helpful information
Taxpayers can create or access their personal IRS Online Account, where they can find all their tax-related information for the 2025 filing season. New users will need to have a photo ID ready to verify their identity.
Through their IRS Online Account, taxpayers can:
• View key details from their most recent tax return, such as adjusted gross income.
• Request an Identity Protection PIN.
• Get account transcripts to include wage and income records.
• Sign tax forms such as powers of attorney or tax information authorizations.
• View and edit language preferences request and alternative media such as Braille, large print and more.
• Receive and view over 200 IRS electronic notices.
• View, make and cancel payments.
• Set up or change payment plans and check their balance.
Gather and organize tax documents
Having well-organized tax records can make filing a complete and accurate return easier and help avoid errors that can delay refunds. This may also help the taxpayer identify deductions or credits that may have been overlooked.
Most income is taxable, including unemployment compensation, refund interest and income from the gig economy and digital assets. Taxpayers should watch for and gather essential forms, such as Forms W-2, Wage and Tax Statement and other income documents
Helpful IRS resources and online tools
IRS.gov is a valuable resource for taxpayers, offering a variety of online tools such as the IRS Online Account for individuals available 24/7. These tools help individuals file and pay taxes, track refunds, access account information and get answers to many tax questions. Taxpayers can save time by bookmarking these resources on their browser for easy access
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Tax Tips: Final 2024 quarterly estimated tax payment due Jan. 15
WASHINGTON – The Internal Revenue Service today encouraged taxpayers who paid too little tax in 2024 to make a fourth quarter estimated tax payment on or before Jan. 15, 2025.
Income taxes are pay-as-you-go, meaning taxpayers must pay most of their tax throughout the year in which their income is earned or received. Usually this is done by withholding tax from paychecks or by making quarterly estimated tax payments to the IRS (or by a combination of both).
However, taxpayers who pay quarterly sometimes overlook this step, and missing a quarterly payment can result in unexpected penalties and fees when they file their returns in 2025.
Who needs to make a payment?
Taxpayers who earn or receive income that is not subject to tax withholding, such as self-employed people or independent contractors, should pay their taxes quarterly to the IRS.
Taxpayers who owed on their most recent return may find they owe again when they file the following year and should consider making an estimated quarterly payment to avoid a potential tax bill or penalty.
Taxpayers in this situation normally include:
• Those who itemized in the past but are now taking the standard deduction.
• Two wage-earner households.
• Employees with non-wage sources of income such as dividends.
• Those with complex tax situations.
• Those who failed to increase their tax withholding.
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