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.
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This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 8th, 2013 at 7:25 pm and is filed under Tax Deadlines, Tax News.- Unlimited live support.
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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!
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.
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.
when will the first checks arrive at the tax places after january 30th
So if your refund was acccepted early does it mean you can get it early?
hi i filed mine on the 23 at h and r block how long do u think it will take me to get my money i have things to pay and do =(
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 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.
Hi Nadia,
It’s impossible to say for sure, but I think you should get your refund sometime in the first three weeks of February.
If my status says pending, with date of jan 30, will it be processed on the 30? Do others say different dates of processing? What I am trying to ask is, if it says it’ll be processed on the 30th, its guarenteed for the 30th vs mid to late February? Do all efile processing dates say the 30?
Hi Raqi,
It’s not guaranteed to be processed on the 30th, but I think it’s safe to say that it will probably be processed within 48-72 hours.
Well I check tha status on my refund and mines say feburary 1 no later than tha six of febuary
i called the tax place and they told me mines had been sent off do you think i will be one of the ones who get the refunds early
I file my taxes with u guys I was just wonder how long after the 30 will it take for the for it go through is 2 weeks befor the irs will get it.
Hi Amber,
We are currently in the process of filing a large backlog of returns from the month of January. If you’d like more information please contact our customer service at 877-289-7580.
Hello, I have sent an email to you days ago without reply.. I did my returns and submitted about 3 weeks ago.. do I have to resubmit or just wait to be accepted. I have been using youre services for years no complaints!waiting is ridiculous! Can u give a heads up when mine will be accepted please?
Hi I submitted mine 3 weeks ago.. I have no accept no pending no nothing.. and youre customer service isnt taking calls? do I have to resubmit?
What is the deal with college students not being able to file claiming tuition costs? I was told that the form needed would not be available till toward the end of February.
the irs gave me a date of febuary 6 2013 will i get it back early
Hi Shay,
I apologize one of our customer service representatives hasn’t gotten back to you yet. As you can imagine, given the delay of the season by two weeks this year, we are pretty swamped by a backlog of returns submitted during January. At this point I don’t have enough information to look into your account specifically, but I can tell you that you probably don’t need to resubmit your return. If you have further questions or complaints please contact customer service directly at 877-289-7580 or you can live chat us through the website. I apologize for the delay and thank you for your patience.
Hi Dee,
You can find out more about this issue on the IRS website: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/IRS-To-Accept-Returns-Claiming-Education-Credits-by-Mid-February.
If you’re claiming an education credit your return will be delayed, but if you are claiming one of the deductions you should be able to proceed without delay.
what time does the irs deposit checks to the companys that filed your taxes
I efiled my federal and state on jan 25 2013 and my federal was accepted on jan 27 and state still says waiting for response and federal wheres my refund says processing but doesnt have a estimated date of when to expect it
is that normal?
Hi Rose,
Yes it’s perfectly normal. The states tend to be slightly behind the IRS and many did not start accepting returns until several days later. As for the federal, even though it was accepted on the 27th, the IRS likely did not start processing it until the 30th. It’s only been a week at this point and it could be up to 21 days before you get your refund.
I e-filed on January 18th. and I’ve been checking to see when my refund will be deposited, but there’s never any information about my refund. So is that bad or is it normal. just concerned because I never received an email or anything.
Hi Brandi,
Even though you e-filed on the 18th, the IRS probably didn’t start processing your return until the 30th, so it’s actually been less time than you think. I’ve also heard that the Where’s My Refund tool has been having some problems, so that my account for the lack of information. By this point, however, you should have heard something. I would a) see if you can get any information from Where’s My Refund and then b) contact the company you filed your taxes with to make sure everything went through okay.
I didn’t get my refund yet nor any other information besides that it was processing. Then I decided to request a transcript of my taxes. I finally got my transcript and this is what it says:
Processing date: Feb 18, 2013
on my other form (because for some reason they sent me two DIFFERENT transcripts) they list all the information that they received and for the received date it says APRIL 15, 2013
I filed and got excepted on January 27th through turbo tax. Soooo if you guys are wondering when you’ll get yours, file a request for your transcripts and you could find out just like me.
Hi I filed my taxes on January 25th, 2013 with a private tax preparer. She sent in thru on January 26th she says. Ive been calling and checking the IRS website for the status and its still says Return is still pending. Ive tried to call and talk to a live representative but they never tell me anything really. I just want to know when should I expect a refund its been about 21 days now. What should I do I havent recieved state nor federal?
Hi Jonierre,
Even though your return was filed on Jan. 25th, the IRS did not start processing returns until Jan. 30th. So that means that you still have a few days before you hit the 21 day window. I can’t you anything more than what the IRS has said. It’s up to them at this point and if you don’t have it by the 21st I would call back.
hi i filled the 29th irs accpeted my return on the 30th it has been 16 days and still no update when i will get it irs will not tell me any thing does anyone know when i should get my money turbo tax said there is no problems showing wrong on my forms so did the irs thats all im getting told and a week later the bar went away on whers my refund
Hi Sarah,
The IRS says that most people will get their refund in less than 21 days, so your return is still within that range. I wouldn’t start worrying until next week.
Is there a refund tracker for your site I can use for u guys company and my 21 days will be up on Sunday still no date yet thanks
Hi Amber,
If you filed taxes with us, you can log back in to your account and go to your status page. It should tell you the status of your return there.
What is the issue with rental income/loss that is holding up processing of returns?
Hi Deborah,
Thanks to the fiscal cliff, the IRS had to delay the processing of several forms. In this case I assume you are referring to Form 8582 [Passive Activity Loss Limitations]. You can see the full list here: http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/List-of-IRS-forms-that-1040-filers-can-begin-filing-in-late-February-or-into-March-2013. According to the IRS they should be ready to process these returns beginning the first week of March.