These tax resources can help you gather the documents you need to prepare before you complete your taxes. The IRS will generally opens the filing season at the end of January. For updated dates view Filing Season Resources.

In response to Executive Order 14247, “Modernizing Payments to and From America’s Bank Account” the IRS is making a swift transition away from sending or receiving paper checks. For the most part, the IRS will stop issuing tax refunds in the form of paper checks after September 30, 2025. Going forward, it also will take steps to begin requiring that taxpayers make all payments to the IRS electronically.  

As explained in this National Taxpayer Advocate blog, the IRS will begin implementing the EO for 2025 tax returns. For the 2024 and prior tax returns, there will be no change in how taxpayers receive payments from or make payments to the IRS. For 2025 returns, taxpayers will be asked to provide the IRS with their direct deposit information or demonstrate that they qualify for an exception. (If a taxpayer does not provide direct deposit information, the IRS will issue a paper check after six weeks.)  

Whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor depends on the relationship between the worker and the business.

When a worker is classified as an employee, the employer must withhold income taxes as well as Social Security and Medicare taxes from the employee’s paycheck. The employee and the employer each contribute a percentage of the worker’s wages to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes (more commonly referred to as Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes). The employer must also pay unemployment taxes under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA) on the employee’s wages. When a worker is classified as an independent contractor, the worker is responsible for paying income tax and the entire contribution for Social Security and Medicare taxes.

There are many credits available for families with dependents, but sometimes the qualifications for these credits can be confusing. If you make an error when claiming credits on your federal tax return, it could result in a delay in receiving your refund, an audit, a denial of all or a portion of your credit, and you could be potentially liable for penalties and interest. To ensure a smooth process and receive your refund promptly, avoid these common mistakes made when claiming some of the more popular tax credits.   

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 amended the credits available for energy efficient home improvements and residential clean energy property. Here are some tips to help you determine if you’re eligible for the energy efficient home improvement credit.  

For property that is ready for use (also referred to as placed in service) from 2023-2032, this credit is available for energy efficient home improvements. It is a nonrefundable credit that can reduce or eliminate the amount of tax you owe. The credit cannot be refunded. 

As part of its ongoing Employee Retention Credit compliance work, the IRS announced on August 15, 2024, that they will be sending up to 30,000 Employee Retention Credit (ERC) recapture letters throughout the fall months. These Letters 6577-C, Employee Retention Credit (ERC) Recapture, represent more than $1 billion in claims, mostly for tax year 2021. They notify business taxpayers that the IRS is reversing or recapturing their previous ERC credit.

If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Unscrupulous promoters are aggressively advertising on social media telling taxpayers that they are entitled to free money from the IRS. The IRS has received thousands of claims where it appears taxpayers are claiming credits for which they are not eligible, leading to significant refund delays. The IRS will freeze refunds for questionable claims and send the taxpayers at least one letter in response. Taxpayers will generally receive a letter asking them to verify their identity. They may also receive a letter seeking additional documentation to show they qualify for the credits claimed on the return. To avoid hefty penalties and potential follow-up action by the IRS, taxpayers who incorrectly claimed credits must promptly amend their returns to remove the questionable credit.

If you receive information from the IRS that doesn’t belong to you, this is known as an inadvertent unauthorized disclosure.

It’s important to make sure you classify your income properly because it has implications on how that income is reported and how much tax you may owe.

If you are an employer who provides childcare services to your employees, you might be eligible for the Employer-Provided Childcare Credit. The credit is an incentive for taxpayers to provide childcare services to their employees.

Tax filing season can be difficult to navigate, but TAS has compiled a list of resources to help you make it to the finish line.

If you receive a substantial amount of non-wage income like self-employment income, investment income, taxable Social Security benefits, or pension and annuity income, you should make quarterly estimated tax payments. Log in to your online account to make a payment online or go to IRS.gov/payments.

Need help filing your federal tax return? Start with these easy steps to find a tax preparer that’s right for you.

Most taxpayers who requested an extension of time to file for their federal income tax return will have until October 15, to file.

Reducing your tax liability may be tempting; however, many social media schemes are illegal and can lead to serious consequences. 

When you get married, your tax situation changes. Your marital status as of December 31 determines your tax filing options for the entire year. State law determines whether you are married. If you’re married at year-end, you have two filing status choices: