Tax season start means that the day when the IRS starts accepting taxpayers tax returns. The upcoming IRS tax season will typically start in late January. For most people, the last date to file or submit their tax return for 2024 tax years will be Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
If a taxpayer will file their federal income tax return online and select a direct deposit refund receiving method then the IRS will deliver your refund amount within 21 days. Whereas if a taxpayer will file through a paper form then they can expect to receive their tax refund within eight weeks.
When will the IRS Start Tax Season 2025?
As we are approaching the end of the year, which means that the tax season 2025 is going to start soon. But the answer of When will the IRS start tax season 2025? Is very unpredictable. It is because the IRS has not officially announced the 2025 tax season start date yet. But it is expected that the IRS will start accepting electronically filed income tax returns in the last week of January next year.
Whereas the tax return filing deadline will be April 15 (which can be different if the 15th of April falls on weekends or holidays). The IRS has released a few deadlines that interested taxpayers must know so that they will be able to avoid penalties, late filing fees, and filing-hour filing stress.
According to the IRS, taxpayers who are paying quarterly estimated tax need to file their income tax return by 15 January 2025. Employers need to fill out and submit Form W-2 and must submit a 1099 form before the deadline of 31 January 2025. The disaster affected area residents must file their income tax return before 01 May 2025. Whereas the deadline to file the IRS income tax return for the tax year 2024 is 15 April, 2025.
What are the key steps that you need to take for filing your 2025 Federal Tax Return?
As the 2025 filing season is going to begin in a few days, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) encouraged individuals to take key steps to filing their 2024 federal income tax returns in 2025. The IRS also works to improve individuals’ services to make it easy for eligible individuals to file their return for tax season with more digital tools and more available services options. Some of the announced changes that can help you to tax returns smoothly and easily are listed below.
Perform more with an IRS Online Account:
In 2025, taxpayers will be able to create or get access to their IRS Online Account by visiting Online accounts for individuals. With an updated IRS Online Account taxpayer’s will be able to
- See key information about their current tax return like adjusted gross income (AGI).
- Request for an Identity Protection PIN code.
- Receive account transcripts that can carry wage and taxpayer’s income records.
- Receive and see more than 200 IRS e-notices.
- See, done and cancel their tax return or credit payments.
- Select or edit their payment plans and check their payment amount.
Receive an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN)
A six-digit number known as IP PIN restricts other individuals to file a federal tax return by utilizing the taxpayer’s Social Security number (SSN) or applicant’s Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). It is a very important step to ensure the safety of an individual’s private information.
In the 2025 filing season, the IRS will approve Forms 1040, 1040-NR or 1040-SS even if a dependent has already been claimed on a past year’s filed income tax return, as long as the primary individual on the second tax return form carries a valid IP PIN.
Free filing options
According to the new change taxpayers can file a federal income tax return electronically by using the IRS Free File option regardless of income limit restrictions. Taxpayers living in participating states, older adults, and military members should file their tax returns easily and smoothly by using Direct or free File tool.
Utilize direct deposit for receiving a faster refund
Filing income tax return electronically and choosing direct deposit refund receiving method is the fastest, safest and easiest way for getting 2024 tax refunds in 2025. Paper check refund receiving method is slower than direct deposit so taxpayers need to choose direct deposit for receiving a faster refund.
Gather 2025 tax related documents
To make the tax filing process easier, individuals need to establish an effective record or document keeping system, either electronic or physical, to gather all necessary documents safely in one place. Individuals need to gather Forms W-2, Forms 1099, Forms 1099-K, Forms 1099-NEC, Forms 1099-MISC and Forms 1099-INT for filing tax returns easily.
1099-K reporting required
Taxpayers who are receiving up to $5,000 through an online marketplace or payment apps in 2024 will receive a Form 1099-K to report these payments in January 2025. From January 2025 it will be compulsory for taxpayers to attach a copy of this form with their tax return form and then submit it to the IRS.
Enter digital assets details on taxes in 2025
Individuals need to report all their digital asset-related income or other details while filing their federal income tax return in 2025.When filing tax returns in January 2025 the taxpayers will be asked to answer “Yes” or “No” for the digital assets related questions.
2025 Tax Refund Dates
2025 Tax Refund receiving Dates depends on the various factors such as date of tax return filing. The exact date of tax refund in 2025 is not disclosed by officials yet but the expected 2025 Tax Refund Dates are listed in the below table.
| If taxpayers file their tax Return on | Then Direct Deposit refund will be delivered within 10 days after approval whereas electronically filed but paper check refund receiving method will take up to 1 week after that. |
| January 27, 2025 | February 7 (February 14) |
| February 3, 2025 | February 14 (February 21) |
| February 10, 2025 | February 21 (February 28) |
| February 17, 2025 | February 28 (March 7) |
| February 24, 2025 | March 7 (March 14) |
| March 3, 2025 | March 14 (March 21) |
| March 10, 2025 | March 21 (March 28) |
| March 17, 2025 | March 28 (April 4) |
| March 24, 2025 | April 4 (April 11) |
| March 31, 2025 | April 11 (April 18) |
| April 7, 2025 | April 18 (April 25) |
| April 14, 2025 | April 25 (May 2) |
According to the PATH Act, the IRS will not deliver tax refunds for tax returns by claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) before 15th of February.
What to do if you miss the Tax Return Filing Deadline 2025?
If taxpayers need more time to prepare or gather required documents for filing a income tax return in 2025 then they need to know that the IRS introduced a tax extension period for such individuals so that they will be able to file their tax return even after missing the actual tax return filing deadline.
The last date to apply for a tax extension is 15 April, 2025. Tax extension period will provide you a time limit until 15 October, 2025, to collect your necessary form and details. To request for an extension period taxpayers need to submit Form 4868 to the IRS electronically.
It is advised to you please check your state’s income tax return filing tax extension deadline because every state has a different process or deadline for requesting a tax extension for filing a state tax returns. For instance, In California and Illinois officials will automatically provide a six month extension tax filing period.
