What does "tax year 2022" mean on IRS documents? I'm confused about which filing period this refers to

8 The term "tax year 2022" refers to income earned during the calendar year 2022 (January 1 - December 31, 2022), which you would have filed taxes for in 2023 (typically by April 18, 2023). When the IRS or state tax agencies refer to a specific tax year, they're talking about the year in which you earned the income, not the year you filed the return. So in your case, "tax year 2022" is referring to the taxes you filed in 2023 based on your 2022 income. Since you mentioned you moved in 2021 but didn't earn income in your new location that year, the notice about "tax year 2022" would be relevant to any income you earned in your new location during 2022. If you're getting a notice about filing an exemption, it might be because the tax authority thinks you had taxable activity in their jurisdiction during 2022.

17 After dealing with similar confusion last year, I found taxr.ai super helpful for deciphering tax notices. I had received a letter mentioning "tax year 2021" but wasn't sure if it was about my most recent filing or something else. I uploaded the document to https://taxr.ai and it explained exactly what the notice meant and what action I needed to take. The tool basically translated all the tax jargon into plain English and gave me step-by-step guidance. It also explained why I was receiving the notice in the first place which really helped ease my anxiety.

5 Just wanted to update - I tried taxr.ai after my skeptical question above. I'm actually impressed with how helpful it was. I uploaded the confusing tax notice I received about "tax year 2022" and not only did it explain what the terminology meant, but it also walked me through exactly what I needed to do next. The security seemed solid too - they don't keep your documents and the explanation was really thorough. Saved me hours of stress and probably a call with an accountant. Definitely better than trying to decipher the tax code on my own!

20 If you're getting notices and need to talk to someone at the IRS to sort it out, good luck getting through on the phone! After trying for WEEKS to reach someone (constant busy signals or 2+ hour wait times), I discovered https://claimyr.com which got me through to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was dealing with a confusing "tax year 2022" notice that needed clarification, and getting a human on the phone made all the difference. The IRS agent was able to explain exactly what the notice meant and what I needed to do. Saved me so much frustration compared to trying to figure it out from their cryptic notices alone.

5 I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try it as a last resort because I was getting nowhere with the IRS about my tax year confusion. Within about 20 minutes, I was actually talking to a real IRS representative! The agent explained that my "tax year 2022" notice was related to a missing form, not an audit like I feared. Got it resolved in one call instead of stressing for weeks. The service actually delivered exactly what it promised - which almost never happens with anything tax-related in my experience!

11 Tax years always confused me until my accountant explained it this way: the tax year is named after the year you earned the money, not when you file. So: Tax Year 2022 = Money earned Jan-Dec 2022, filed in 2023 Tax Year 2023 = Money earned Jan-Dec 2023, filed in 2024 And it gets even more confusing for businesses that don't use calendar years as their fiscal year!

7 Something to watch out for: sometimes the IRS sends notices for older tax years if they're just now getting around to processing something! I got a notice in 2023 about "tax year 2020" because they had a backlog. The date on the notice itself is really important for determining deadlines to respond!!!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm dealing with a similar situation where I received a notice about "tax year 2022" and was completely panicked thinking I had done something wrong. Reading through everyone's explanations really clarified that it's just referring to the income I earned in 2022 (which I filed taxes for in 2023). The distinction between the year you earned the money vs. the year you filed is so important but not intuitive at all. I wish the IRS would just say "income earned in 2022" instead of "tax year 2022" - it would save so much confusion! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and solutions.

This thread has been incredibly educational! As someone who's relatively new to filing taxes independently, the terminology around tax years has always been one of my biggest sources of confusion. What really helped me understand it was thinking of it this way: the tax year is like a label for a specific period of your financial life. So "tax year 2022" is essentially the IRS's way of saying "all the money stuff that happened to you between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022" - regardless of when you actually sit down to fill out the paperwork. I also learned the hard way that getting a notice doesn't automatically mean you're in trouble. Last year I got a letter about tax year 2021 and immediately thought I was being audited or had made some major error. Turns out they just needed me to verify some information that didn't match their records. A simple phone call cleared it up completely. For anyone else dealing with confusing tax notices, don't panic! Read through the letter carefully, and don't be afraid to call for clarification if you need it. The representatives are usually pretty helpful once you actually get through to them.

This whole discussion has been so enlightening! As someone who just received my first "tax year 2022" notice in the mail yesterday, I was completely panicked until I found this thread. The way everyone has broken down that it simply refers to income earned during calendar year 2022 (filed in 2023) makes so much sense now. What really strikes me is how many people have had similar experiences with that initial panic when seeing official tax correspondence. It's almost like there should be a "Tax Notice 101" guide that explains these basic concepts before you even open the envelope! I'm definitely going to keep this thread bookmarked for future reference. The advice about reading notices carefully and not assuming the worst is particularly valuable. Sometimes it really does take a community to help decode government communications that should be straightforward but somehow aren't.

I'm so grateful I found this thread! I've been dealing with tax anxiety for years, and the terminology around tax years has always been one of my biggest stumbling blocks. Reading through everyone's experiences really helped me realize that I'm not alone in finding IRS communications confusing and intimidating. What really resonates with me is how many people mentioned that initial panic when receiving any official tax correspondence. I think there's something about the formal language and official letterhead that immediately makes us assume we've done something terribly wrong. But as several people pointed out, most of these notices are just routine administrative requests. The explanation that "tax year 2022" simply refers to income earned during calendar year 2022 (regardless of when you filed) is so much clearer than anything I've read in official IRS publications. Sometimes peer explanations are worth more than all the official documentation combined! For anyone else who gets overwhelmed by tax notices: take a deep breath, read it carefully, and remember that getting a letter doesn't automatically mean you're in trouble. This community has shown me that most tax issues are much more manageable than they initially appear.