It’s official: January 30th will be the first day to e-file taxes in 2013!
Well, this was hardly a surprise. The IRS announced Tuesday that it was kicking forward the opening of the 2013 tax season to Wednesday, Jan 30th. That’s a full eight days later than the previously announced January 22nd marker, which was itself set five days past the Jan 17 date on which the 2012 season began.
It would be cheap, at best, to blame the Taxman. After the protracted end of year mess in Washington, the agency could hardly have been expected to have all its t’s crossed and its many i’s dotted by mid-month. For anyone in need of a reminder, legislation to pull the nation off the fiscal cliff was only passed on the second day of the year!
“We have worked hard to open tax season as soon as possible,” said IRS Acting Commissioner Steven Miller in a statement issued Tuesday.. “This date ensures we have the time we need to update and test our processing systems,” he added.
So when does tax season start in 2013? The old 22nd date, on which e-filing was set to begin, left open the option of paper filing your tax return hours after the din of the fireworks had died down, which is to say on Jan 1st. This will not be possible this time around.
Instead, both e-file and paper filing will have to wait for the end of January’s opening bell, further reducing the incentive to paper file. In the IRS’s estimate, more than 80 million taxpayers filed online last year. This is a number the agency’s brass is intent on increasing.
Starting Jan 30, the large majority of taxpayers, or roughly 120 million households, will be able to file their tax return, whether they go online or put pencil to paper. The rest, notably those claiming residential energy and some business credits, will have to wait longer, until late February and possibly into March.
Photo via Scott S on Flickr.
So if your refund was acccepted early does it mean you can get it early?
Hi Antquenette,
My understanding is that only a small number of people have been selected for the test run taking place prior to the 30th. They will get their money early. But for the vast majority of people, processing will not begin until the 30th, even if their return has been accepted before that date.
when will the first checks arrive at the tax places after january 30th
Hi Lashana,
The IRS says that most people who e-file their return and request direct deposit will have their refund in “under 21 days.” If you requested a paper check it will take slightly longer, I would guess 3-4 weeks.
hi to all,
Its official that e-file will not start til January 30th 2013 due to the government wanting to give extra time for the processing system to be tested to ensure proficientcy. Go figure, if they dont have it right by now they never will and glitches can still happen.
I Received An Email Thay My Taxes Were Accepted Early Yesterday, Does That Mean It May BE Processed Sooner.
Hi Leona,
From what everyone is saying it sounds like processing won’t begin until Jan. 30th even though some returns have been accepted early.
I have a question in regards to Form 982 “Reduction of Tax Attributes due to discharge of Indebtedness”
I filed the above form with my tax return for 2011 due to the fact that I had to file bankruptcy in 2010 and with that surrendered my house (in Hawaii). I filed Form 982 because of the discharge of indebtedness in my title 11 case and listed the total amount of discharged indebtedness excluded from my gross income (ALL in 2011).
My status hasen’t really changed – meaning that my bank has not yet foreclosed on my home and therefore I still legally own it because I am on the title!
Do I have to file Form 982 again for the tax year 2012 just because of my above mentioned status or do I had to file it only once for 2011 because of the bankruptcy case and the discharge of that specific debt???
My status is still the same meaning that legally I still own the home because I am on the title. My bank though has not yet started the foreclosure process!