2021 Official Filing Season Begins February 12.

 

The Internal Revenue Service announced that the nation's tax season will start on Friday, Feb. 12, 2021. The filing season open follows IRS work to update its programming and test its systems to factor in the second Economic Impact Payments and other tax law changes.

Under the PATH Act, the IRS cannot issue a refund involving the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) before mid-February. The law provides this additional time to help the IRS stop fraudulent refunds and claims from being issued, including to identity thieves.

Key filing season dates

There are several important dates taxpayers should keep in mind for this year’s filing season:

  • Jan. 29. Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day to raise awareness of valuable tax credits available to many people – including the option to use prior-year income to qualify.

  • Feb. 12. IRS begins 2021 tax season. Individual tax returns begin being accepted and processing begins.

  • Feb. 22. Projected date for the IRS.gov Where’s My Refund tool being updated for those claiming EITC and ACTC, also referred to as PATH Act returns.

  • First week of March. Tax refunds begin reaching those claiming EITC and ACTC (PATH Act returns) for those who file electronically with direct deposit and there are no issues with their tax returns.

  • April 15. Deadline for filing 2020 tax returns.

  • Oct. 15. Deadline to file for those requesting an extension on their 2020 tax returns

 
TaxBlue Rock2021 Filing Season