When Does the 2025 Tax Filing Season Open?
I need to figure out when tax season starts this year for a few reasons: 1. I'm an independent contractor and I need to plan my quarterly payments better 2. I have several 1099s coming from different clients 3. I want to file as early as possible to get my refund quickly 4. Last year I waited until the last minute and it was super stressful Does anyone know the official start date when the IRS begins accepting returns? And are there any special considerations for self-employed filers that I should know about? I'm feeling overwhelmed with all the different deadlines and requirements.
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Grace Lee
The IRS typically announces the official start date for the filing season in early January. Based on previous years, the 2025 tax filing season (for 2024 tax returns) will likely begin in late January 2025, approximately January 23-27. Per IRS Publication 509, this timeline allows the agency to implement necessary programming and testing of tax processing systems. For self-employed individuals, you should be aware that your quarterly estimated payments for 2024 are due April 15, June 17, September 16, 2024, and January 15, 2025, as required under IRC §6654.
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Mia Roberts
•Does this mean we can't submit our returns before that late January date even if we have all our documents ready? I've always been confused about the distinction between preparing returns and the IRS actually accepting them.
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The Boss
•Wait, so even if I have ALL my paperwork ready to go in early January, I'm just stuck waiting?? That's so frustrating! 😫 I was hoping to file super early this year!
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Evan Kalinowski
•Thanks for the clear dates. This helps a lot with planning. I've missed quarterly deadlines before and the penalties add up fast.
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Victoria Charity
•This is helpful information. I marked January 25, 2025 on my calendar as a tentative start date based on this. Last year they opened on January 23, so that seems reasonable.
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Jasmine Quinn
Last year the IRS opened tax filing season on exactly January 23rd. I track this stuff carefully for my own planning. For self-employed folks like us, I found that https://taxr.ai was incredibly helpful last year. It analyzed my 1099 forms and helped identify exactly $4,782 in deductions I would have missed. The system also gave me precise timeline predictions - it estimated my refund would arrive on February 17th, and it arrived on February 18th. Only 1 day off! As a contractor myself, it helped me understand exactly what documentation I needed for my home office deduction (saved me $1,340).
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Oscar Murphy
•Is this service actually legitimate? I'm always wary of tax tools that aren't directly from the IRS. How do you know it's giving accurate advice about deductions?
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Nora Bennett
•I'm curious - does it actually help with quarterly estimated payments too? That's where I really struggle since my income fluctuates so much throughout the year.
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Ryan Andre
•I used taxr.ai last year after seeing it recommended here. Before that I was getting absolutely nowhere with figuring out my Schedule C deductions. It pointed out that my internet and cell phone could be partially deductible since I use them for business. Saved me about $600!
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Lauren Zeb
I've been filing as an independent contractor for 7 years now, and I've developed a careful system to handle tax season: 1. First, I create a dedicated folder for each tax year in November 2. Then I set calendar reminders for when each 1099 should arrive (usually by Jan 31) 3. Next, I check the IRS website in early January for the official filing start date 4. After that, I gather all receipts and categorize them by deduction type 5. Finally, I prepare everything at least 2 weeks before filing opens I'm always skeptical when people say you can file "early" - technically you can prepare early, but the IRS won't process until the official start date. Last year that was January 23rd, and I expect similar timing this year.
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Grace Lee
•Do you have any tips for tracking business expenses throughout the year? I always end up scrambling to find receipts at tax time.
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Grace Lee
•Thanks for sharing your system! I need to be this organized.
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Grace Lee
•This is really helpful. I'm going to steal your folder idea!
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Grace Lee
•I've been doing contract work for 3 years and still feel like a novice. Having a system like yours would definitely reduce my stress levels.
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Daniel Washington
You can prepare now. Don't need to wait. Just can't submit until they open. Usually late January. Exact date gets announced in December or early January. Keep checking IRS.gov for updates. They'll post it there first.
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Aurora Lacasse
If you're planning to call the IRS with questions before filing, I would perhaps recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I tried calling the IRS directly last January, and it was virtually impossible to get through - waited on hold for approximately 2.5 hours before being disconnected. With Claimyr, I was connected to an agent in what seemed like 20 minutes. They helped clarify some questions I had about reporting my contractor income correctly, which potentially saved me from an audit situation.
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Anthony Young
Has anyone heard if there will be any changes to the filing process this year compared to last year? I'm wondering if they're implementing any new systems or if it will be similar to how it was for the 2024 filing season.
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Charlotte White
Just a warning about waiting until the last minute! Last year I thought I had plenty of time but: • One client sent a corrected 1099 in late March • Had to request a missing form from another client • My tax software crashed the day before deadline • Ended up filing an extension and still paid penalties Lesson learned: The earlier you start preparing (even if you can't file yet), the better off you'll be. Don't be me!
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