The IRS announced its starting date for accepting and processing 2023 tax-year returns is Monday, January 29, 2024.
Tips for making tax filing easier
To speed a potential tax refund and help with tax filing, the IRS suggests the following:
- Make sure you have received Form W-2 and other earnings information, such as Form 1099, from employers and payers. The dates for furnishing such information to recipients vary by form, but they are generally not required before February 1, 2024. You may need to allow additional time for mail delivery.
- Go to irs.gov to find the federal individual income tax returns, Form 1040 and Form 1040-SR (available for seniors born before January 2, 1959), and their instructions.
- File electronically and use direct deposit.
- Check irs.gov for the latest tax information.
Key filing dates
Here are several important dates to keep in mind:
- January 12. IRS Free File opened. IRS Free File Guided Tax Software, available only at irs.gov, allows participating software companies to accept completed tax returns of any taxpayer or family with an adjusted gross income of $79,000 or less in 2023 and hold them until they can be electronically filed with the IRS starting January 29. Also beginning January 29, Free File Fillable forms will be available to taxpayers of any income level to fill out and e-file themselves at no cost.
- January 29. IRS begins accepting and processing individual tax returns.
- April 15. Deadline for filing 2023 tax returns (or requesting an extension) for most taxpayers.
- April 17. Deadline for taxpayers living in Maine or Massachusetts.
- October 15. Deadline to file for those who requested an extension on their 2023 tax returns.
Tax refunds
The IRS encourages taxpayers seeking a tax refund to file their tax return as soon as possible. The IRS expects to issue most tax refunds within 21 days of their receiving a tax return if the return is filed electronically, the tax refund is delivered through direct deposit, and there are no issues with the tax return. To avoid delays in processing, the IRS encourages people to avoid paper tax returns whenever possible.
