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When Does 2016 Tax Season Start?

Prepare for take-off! Tax Season came early this year.

The IRS has announced the start of the 2016 tax season to be Tuesday, January 19th. That is officially one day earlier than last year.

And just in case that didn’t knock your socks off, here’s even more good news. The IRS will not have a tiered opening season this year. Contrary to prior years, taxpayers filing a paper tax return will have the same start date as taxpayers who choose to e-file.

Can I prepare my tax return earlier than January 19th?

Yes, you can. At Rapidtax.com, we provide our services even earlier than the IRS official start date. Keep in mind that this does not mean that your return will be e-filed by the IRS before January 19th but you will be able to create an account and enter all of your information early. After you submit your account, we will handle the rest and make sure your return is e-filed as soon as the IRS opens for filing.

What should I do next?

Continue reading “When Does 2016 Tax Season Start?”

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When Does the 2016 Tax Season Begin For Filing 2015 Tax Returns?

The 2016 tax season has not started yet but you can still get your head in the game!

Every season has a start and an end. Let’s take football for example. You can’t throw a few linebackers and quarterbacks on a field mid-May and tell them to play for the SuperBowl ring. There needs to be officials present and aware of what is going on… not to mention some team preparation and uniform fittings.

The same logic applies to taxes. Taxpayers can prepare for tax season all they want by gathering documents and sorting receipts. It doesn’t mean that you can submit your return to the IRS before the season starts and expect them to accept it. That’s because there are annual changes and documents that need to be issued prior to the start date.

Why are tax preparers saying that 2015 tax preparation is available now?

Some online tax preparation websites are claiming that 2015 tax returns can be prepared and filed. Well, in their defense, that’s half true. In fact, they should be advertising that you can prepare now and file much later (once the IRS starts accepting tax returns).

This may sound tempting but it could just end in more time spent on taxes than really necessary. What do we mean? Well for one, the IRS does not release the new tax forms until the very end of the year (We’re talking post Eggnog binge). That means that all of the information that you are entering onto your account may be incorrect. Not to mention that the financial year hasn’t ended yet so the income amount you enter on your account will need to be updated, regardless come January when you are issued your W-2 form from your employer(s). Continue reading “When Does the 2016 Tax Season Begin For Filing 2015 Tax Returns?”

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Last Day to Claim a 2011 Tax Refund is April 15th!

Hurry – Wednesday, April 15th is the last day to claim a 2011 Tax Refund! 

April 15, 2015 is not only Tax Day for current year tax returns, it’s also the very last day to file a 2011 tax return and still claim a 2011 refund.

That’s because the IRS Statute of Limitations only allows filers three years from the April 15 deadline to claim a tax refund. So, it won’t matter whether you took a tax extension back in 2012.

So where does the unclaimed money go after the three years? You guessed it- the IRS keeps it!

Don’t hand over your hard earned money. File your 2011 tax return today and claim your refund! Continue reading “Last Day to Claim a 2011 Tax Refund is April 15th!”