The IRS Accepting Tax Returns official date is announced and taxpayers have to prepare their taxes before tax day which will be 27 January 2025. Taxpayers can prepare their taxes early without any cost through a free file which is available from 10 January with eight private participants.
The Direct File will be available to 25 states in 2025 with many expansions like live chatbot and claiming of more credits which is up from the previous pilot program accessible for 13 states. The IRS is also advising taxpayers to do e-filing with direct deposit to avoid delays in their tax returns.
IRS Accepting Tax Returns
Every taxpayer is curious about the updated details of tax season 2025 and there’s good news for them that the IRS has announced that they will begin accepting tax returns for tax year 2024 from 27 January. The IRS is also trying to improve its customer service processes through the agency’s historic modernization efforts.
The IRS is expecting more than 140 million tax returns for the tax year 2024. Agency has also expanded the features and availability of last year’s Direct File Program by providing it to taxpayers in 25 states. This is up from last year’s 12 states pilot program. This article provides you details about IRS recent announcements and tips for filing season.
The IRS Free File is available from 10 January which allows taxpayers to file taxes without any cost and step by step accurate guidance with an AGI of $84,000 or less. Individuals have to follow “Get Ready” page highlights which can help them to know what to do before the IRS accepts tax returns in 2025.
IRS Tax Season 2025 Key Dates
The key dates of tax filing season 2025 is crucial to know because if you don’t follow these dates and deadlines then you can face problems. You will receive your return early in case of early filing and if you miss the deadline then you can face penalties so check below given dates.
| IRS Free File Open Date | 10 January 2025 |
| Start of Filing Season | 27 January 2025 |
| Direct File Available | 27 January 2025 |
| Tax Filing Deadline | 15 April 2025 |
| Extension Period | 15 October 2025 |
| Expected Refund Timeline | 21 Days |
Expanded Availability of IRS Direct File 2025
The IRS has expanded the availability of its Direct File program for the 2025 tax filing season and the main purpose of this expansion is to provide a more accessible and user-friendly tax season to millions of taxpayers. The direct file was available to only 13 states in the previous year and this year almost 30 million taxpayers will be eligible to use Direct File across the 25 states. These 25 states are:
- Arizona
- California
- Florida
- Massachusetts
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New York
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Washington
- Wyoming
- Alaska
- Connecticut
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Maine
- Maryland
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Wisconsin
Other new enhancements of direct file 2025 are its wide range of covering more tax situations, it means taxpayers can also claim certain credit including Child and Dependent Care Credit, Premium Tax Credit, Credit for the Elderly and Disabled, and Retirement Savings Contribution Credits. The new live chat will again be available in English and Spanish which will help you during filing.
IRS Free File 2025
The tax returns will be accepted from 27 January 2025 but taxpayers have various options to prepare and file their taxes earlier and one of them is IRS Free File 2025. The IRS Free File allows you to file taxes free from 10 January and this can be accessed through the IRS official website.
The most valuable way to file taxes is a free file for most taxpayers with adjusted gross income of $84,000 or less and individuals can file taxes through the official website of IRS by navigating one of the eight partner websites from there. Individuals can prepare their tax returns through a free file and hold them until 27 January to file them. The eight qualifying participants are:
- 1040Now
- Drake (1040.com)
- ezTaxReturn.com (available in Spanish)
- FileYourTaxes.com
- On-Line Taxes
- TaxAct
- TaxHawk (FreeTaxUSA)
- TaxSlayer