This Could be a 'Frustrating' Tax Season, Officials Say

This year's tax filing season will begin on Jan. 24, 17 days earlier than last year, the Internal Revenue Service announced Monday. The IRS is warning that a resurgence of COVID-19 infections on top of a lesser funding authorization from Congress than the Biden administration had requested could make this filing season particularly challenging, the AP reports. "The pandemic continues to create challenges, but the IRS reminds people there are important steps they can take to help ensure their tax return and refund don't face processing delays,” IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said.

Avoiding a paper tax return will be more important than ever this year to avert processing delays, Rettig said. He urged taxpayers to file their returns electronically and to get their refunds by direct deposit. It is also important for taxpayers who received a COVID-19 relief Economic Impact Payment last year or who got an advance Child Tax Credit payment to make sure they report the correct amount on their tax returns to avoid processing delays, Rettig said. The IRS will send letters to recipients of the impact payments and the advance Child Tax Credit payments, and taxpayers can also check for the amounts they received on the website IRS.gov.

Treasury officials warned Monday that a "frustrating season," could lie ahead, with the "enormous challenges" potentially causing delays to refunds and other operations, the Washington Post reports. The deadline for tax returns to be filed this year is Monday, April 18, three days later than the normal April 15 deadline for filing taxes. The later date is a result of the Emancipation Holiday in the District of Columbia. (More IRS stories.)