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The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began accepting and processing federal individual tax returns for the 2024 tax year on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. The agency anticipates over 140 million individual tax returns to be filed before the federal deadline of Tuesday, April 15. More than half of taxpayers are expected to seek assistance from a tax professional. The IRS encourages taxpayers to file electronically and use direct deposit for faster and more secure refunds.

Free Filing Options

The IRS provides several free options for eligible taxpayers to file their taxes:

   IRS Free File: Taxpayers with an income of $84,000 or less can use guided tax software through October 15. Free fillable forms are available at no cost to all income levels.

   Direct File:  Available in 25 participating states, this free web-based service allows taxpayers to file directly with the IRS. It is available in English and Spanish and works on mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and desktop computers. Direct File guides users through a step-by-step process and provides a live chat feature in English and Spanish for customer service assistance.

   Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA): This program offers free tax help to people who generally make $67,000 or less, persons with disabilities, and taxpayers whose preferred language is not English. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing.

   Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE): TCE offers free tax help for all taxpayers, particularly those 60 and older, specializing in pension and retirement-related issues.

   MilTax: This Department of Defense program offers free return preparation and electronic filing software to members of the military and some veterans, with no income limit, for federal income tax returns and up to three state returns.

Refunds and Important Deadlines

The IRS issues most refunds in less than 21 days, however, some returns may require additional review and take longer. Taxpayers should not rely on receiving a refund by a certain date.  The IRS cannot issue Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) refunds before mid-February.  The IRS says it expects most EITC/ACTC related refunds to be available in taxpayer bank accounts or on debit cards by March 3, if they chose direct deposit and there are no other issues with their return. The easiest way to check a refund’s status is by using “Where’s My Refund?” on IRS.gov or the IRS2Go app.

Choosing a Tax Professional and Avoiding Scams

More than half of taxpayers seek help from a tax professional. The IRS advises taxpayers to choose a trusted professional and be aware of unethical “ghost” preparers who don’t sign or include a valid preparer tax identification number (PTIN) on every tax return they prepare. The IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications can assist in finding a trusted professional.