Fiscal Cliff Delays Tax Filing Season Until at Least Jan. 30

The Internal Revenue Services says tax season will start a little later than usual this year due to late changes to federal tax laws made in the fiscal cliff deal.

The IRS announced Tuesday that the vast majority of taxpayers—more than 120 million households—will be able to start filing their income tax returns on Jan. 30.

The IRS will begin accepting tax returns on that date after updating forms and completing programming and testing of its processing systems, according to a news release. This will reflect the bulk of the late tax law changes enacted by Congress on Jan. 2. 

“We have worked hard to open tax season as soon as possible,” IRS Acting Commissioner Steven T. Miller said in the release. “This date ensures we have the time we need to update and test our processing systems.”

The IRS estimates that remaining households—those claiming residential energy credits, depreciation of property or general business credits—will be able to start filing in late February or into March because of the need for more extensive form and processing systems changes. Most of those in this group file more complex tax returns and typically file closer to the April 15 deadline or obtain an extension, according to the IRS.

The opening of the filing season follows passage by Congress of an extensive set of tax changes in the American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA) on Jan. 1, with many affecting tax returns for 2012. While the IRS worked to anticipate the late tax law changes as much as possible, the final law required that the IRS update forms and instructions as well as make critical processing system adjustments before it can begin accepting tax returns.

The IRS originally planned to open electronic filing this year on Jan. 22; more than 80 percent of taxpayers filed electronically last year.

Have questions about the 2013 tax filing season? Try one of the many accountants in Downers Grove:

• Anchor Accounting & Tax Services
• Barsema Tuzik & Hurley 
• Tumea & Associates CPA Firm
• Strauss Tax
• Better Tax & Accounting
• Liberty Tax Service