When Can I File My 2020 Tax Return

When Can You File Taxes

Most taxpayers know that January marks the start of return filing, but theyre not exactly sure of when. So, what naturally follows is the question When is tax season? and When can I file my taxes?

Read on for the answer to When will I get my tax return? and more details about the IRS refund process.

Income Tax Refund Information

You can check the status of your current year refund online, or by calling the automated line at 260-7701 or 1-800-218-8160. Be sure you have a copy of your return on hand to verify information. You can also e-mail us at to check on your refund. Remember to include your name, Social Security number and refund amount in your e-mail request.

If you’re expecting a tax refund and want it quickly, file electronically – instead of using a paper return.

If you choose direct deposit, we will transfer your refund to your bank account within a few days from the date your return is accepted and processed.

Electronic filers

We usually process electronically filed tax returns the same day that the return is transmitted to us.

If you filed electronically through a professional tax preparer and haven’t received your refund check our online system. If not there, call your preparer to make sure that your return was transmitted to us and on what date. If sufficient time has passed from that date, call our Refund line.

Paper filers

Paper returns take approximately 30 days to process. Keep in mind that acknowledgment of the receipt of your return takes place when your return has processed and appears in our computer system.

Typically, a refund can also be delayed when the return contains:

• Missing entries in the required sections.
• An amount claimed for estimated taxes paid that doesn’t correspond with the amount we have on file.

Check cashing services

Splitting your Direct Deposit

Paper filers

When The Deadline Is Different

Submit your online return by 30 December if you want HMRC to automatically collect tax you owe from your wages and pension. Find out if you are eligible to pay this way.

HMRC must receive a paper tax return by 31 January if youre a trustee of a registered pension scheme or a non-resident company. You cannot send a return online.

HMRC might also email or write to you giving you a different deadline.

Read Also: How To Amend Tax Return Online

What Other New Pandemic

Congress made a number of changes to tax benefits, such as tweaking the rules to make the Earned Income Tax Credit more generous, or creating new ones for individuals and small business owners to provide pandemic relief.

Small business owners who received a tax-free, forgiven loan from the Paycheck Protection Program may still deduct the businesses expenses they paid for with their loan money.

How Can I File My 2020 Tax Return

Did you prepare it last year but just not file it? Or do you need to prepare it also?

If you prepared it last year but did not file it, you will have to access it using the same account and user ID you used to prepare it, pay your TurboTax fees, then print, sign and mail it. It cannot be e-filed.

If you have not prepared a 2020 returnL

Online preparation and e-filing for 2018 and 2019 and 2020 is permanently closed.

To file a return for a prior tax year

If you need to prepare a return for 2018, 2019 or 2020 you can purchase and download desktop software to do it, then print, sign, and mail the return

You may also want to explore purchasing the software from various retailers such as Amazon, Costco, Best Buy, Walmart, Sams, etc.

Remember to prepare your state return as wellif you live in a state that has a state income tax.

When you mail a tax return, you need to attach any documents showing tax withheld, such as your W-2s or any 1099s. Use a mailing service that will track it, such as UPS or certified mail so you will know the IRS/state received the return.

Federal and state returns must be in separate envelopes and they are mailed to different addresses. Read the mailing instructions that print with your tax return carefully so you mail them to the right addresses.

Read Also: How Will I Know If I Owe Taxes

How Do I File For An Income Tax Extension

Its actually not too hard to file for an extension. The easiest way is electronically requesting one via Free File, which will extend your filing date until Oct. 15. There are a couple things to know, though.

First, youll need to estimate your tax liability, even if you havent calculated it precisely. And youll have to pay any owed taxes by the regular deadline.

If that doesnt work, you can get an automatic six-month extension by using IRS Form 4868, which will also require you to estimate your tax liability based on the data available to you. The difference is, you wont have to make a payment immediately. You will, however, owe interest on your tax bill if you end up owing money.

If youre planning to file for an extension, dont drag your feet. In 2018, the online service went offline owing, in part, to a flood of people who had waited until the last moment.

When Did Irs Accept Returns 2020

IRS opens 2020 filing season for individual filers on Jan. IR-2020-02, January 6, 2020 The Internal Revenue Service confirmed that the nation’s tax season will start for individual tax return filers on Monday, January 27, 2020, when the tax agency will begin accepting and processing 2019 tax year returns.

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Can I Pay My Tax By Credit Card

Yes, you can pay your tax bill with credit in a variety of ways. Credit card and bank loans are both payment options. You can apply for a bank loan, home equity loan or take a cash advance on a credit card to pay your tax bill.

Third party providers like Official Payments Corporation are also available to facilitate using a credit card to pay your tax bill.

• These companies charge a convenience fee for their service.
• That fee is in addition to any interest and finance charges your credit card company may charge you.

Why You Should Consider Filing A Tax Return Even If Youre Not Required To File

Filing a tax return is probably not something most people enjoy doing. So why would anyone want to file a tax return if they don’t have to? Well, actually, there are some important reasons you might get a tax refund and you may be eligible for an additional stimulus payment. If youre eligible for future payments or credits, it helps if IRS has your 2020 tax return and direct deposit information on file.

While people with income under a certain amount aren’t required to file a tax return because they won’t owe any tax, if you qualify for certain tax credits or already paid some federal income tax, the IRS might owe you a refund that you can only get by filing a return. Some tax credits are “refundable” meaning that even if you dont owe income tax, the IRS will issue you a refund if youre eligible. Many people miss out on a tax refund simply because they dont file an IRS tax return.

There is usually no penalty for failure to file if you are due a refund, but why miss out on money thats rightfully yours? If, however, you wait too long to file your return and claim a refund, you risk losing it altogether. Thats because an original return claiming a refund must generally be filed within three years of its due date. If you havent filed a tax return for tax year 2017 and had any money withheld from your paychecks or are eligible for tax credits, you need to file by May 17, 2021. If you dont, the money is forfeited, by law, and becomes property of the U.S. Treasury.

Read Also: When Is The Due Date For Taxes

Who Should File A Tax Return

Most U.S. citizens and permanent residents who work in the United States need to file a tax return if they make more than a certain amount for the year.

You may want to file even if you make less than that amount, because you may get money back if you file. This could apply to you if you:

• Have had federal income tax withheld from your pay
• Made estimated tax payments

When Will I Get The Recovery Rebate Credit

You will most likely get the Recovery Rebate Credit as part of your tax refunds. If you electronically file your tax return, you will likely receive your refund within 3 weeks. If you mail your return, it can take at least 8 weeks to receive your refund.

Claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit will not delay your tax refund. However, if you dont claim the correct amount of the Recovery Rebate Credit, your refund may be delayed while the IRS corrects the error on your return. The IRS will send you a notice of any changes made to your return.

You can check on the status of your refund using the IRS Check My Refund Status tool.

Read Also: When To Expect 2021 Tax Refund

Estimated 2023 Irs Income Tax Return Chart

IMPORTANT: If you file electronically , the IRS will notify you of the actual date they accepted your return. This is often 1-3 days from the time you actually hit the file or submit button, and it is this date that you need to use on the left side of the above chart.

Taxpayers who mail a paper version of their income tax return can expect at least a 3-4 week delay at the front-end of the process, as the return has to be manually entered into the IRS system before it can be processed.

Be Safe Hire a Professional

Taxpayers who use a professional, such as a CPA or EA, can ask that professional for the estimated date of their tax refund, and they can be more confident that their taxes have been properly filed.

There are also apps for Apple, Android and other devices that help track refund status.

Other Notes:

In general, the IRS says that returns with refunds are processed and payments issued within 21 days, and often in as little as 10 days. For paper filers, this can take much longer, however. The IRS and tax professionals strongly encourage electronic filing.

What If You Cant File Your Income Taxes By April 15?

Tax Refund Estimators:

Get A Transcript Of A Tax Return

A transcript is a computer printout of your return information. Sometimes a transcript is an acceptable substitute for an exact copy of your tax return. You may need a transcript when preparing your taxes. They are often used to verify income and tax filing status when applying for loans and government benefits.

Contact the IRS to get a free transcript . There are two ways you can get your transcript:

• Online – To read, print, or download your transcript online, you’ll need to register at IRS.gov. To sign-up, create an account with a username and a password.

Read Also: How Do Small Businesses Pay Taxes

Certain International Tax Returns May Qualify

The notice also provides details on relief for filers of certain international information returns when a penalty is assessed at the time of filing. No relief is available for applicable international information returns when the penalty is part of an examination. To qualify for this relief, any eligible tax return must be filed on or before September 30, 2022.

How Much Will My Check Be For

The MCTR has been set up in three tiers based on the adjusted gross income on your 2020 California state tax return.

• Single taxpayers who earned less than $75,000 and couples who filed jointly and made less than $150,000 will receive $350 per taxpayer and another flat $350 if they have any dependents. A married couple with children, therefore, could receive as much as $1,050. This is the largest bracket, KCRA reported, representing more than 80% of beneficiaries.
• Individual filers who made between $75,000 and $125,000 — and couples who earned between $150,000 and $250,000 — will receive $250 per taxpayer, plus another $250 if they have any dependents. A family with any children could receive $750.
• Individual filers who earned between $125,000 and $250,000 and couples who earned between $250,000 and $500,000 would receive $200 each. A family with children in this bracket could receive a maximum of $600.

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The Tax Deadline Is April 18 2023

Why is the 2023 tax deadline April 18 instead of April 15? Because April 15, the standard deadline, falls on a Saturday. When the deadline falls on a weekend, the IRS moves the deadline day to the next business day. However, that Monday, April 17, 2023, is Emancipation Day, a holiday recognized in Washington, D.C., where the IRS is headquartered.

Depending on when a taxpayer files, they can often receive their tax refund payments within only 2-3 weeks.

Extension To File Your Tax Return

If you cant file your federal income tax return by the due date, you may be able to get a six-month extension from the Internal Revenue Service . This does not grant you more time to pay your taxes. To avoid possible penalties, estimate and pay the taxes you owe by the tax deadline of April 19, 2022, if you live in Maine or Massachusetts or April 18, 2022, for the rest of the country.

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Answer simple questions about your life and TurboTax Free Edition will take care of the rest.For simple tax returns only

• Estimate your tax refund andwhere you stand

• Know how much to withhold from your paycheck to get

• Estimate your self-employment tax and eliminate

• Estimate capital gains, losses, and taxes for cryptocurrency sales

The above article is intended to provide generalized financial information designed to educate a broad segment of the public it does not give personalized tax, investment, legal, or other business and professional advice. Before taking any action, you should always seek the assistance of a professional who knows your particular situation for advice on taxes, your investments, the law, or any other business and professional matters that affect you and/or your business.

This Filing And Payment Relief Includes:

The 2019 income tax filing and payment deadlines for all taxpayers who file and pay their Federal income taxes on April 15, 2020, are automatically extended until July 15, 2020. This relief applies to all individual returns, trusts, and corporations. This relief is automatic, taxpayers do not need to file any additional forms or call the IRS to qualify.

This relief also includes estimated tax payments for tax year 2020 that are due on April 15, 2020.

Penalties and interest will begin to accrue on any remaining unpaid balances as of July 16, 2020. You will automatically avoid interest and penalties on the taxes paid by July 15.

Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file beyond the July 15 deadline can request a filing extension by filing Form 4868 through their tax professional, tax software or using the Free File link on IRS.gov. Businesses who need additional time must file Form 7004.

Also Check: How Do Independent Contractors File Taxes

Why File For An Extension

Filing an extension automatically pushes back the tax filing deadline and protects you from possible failure-to-file and penalties. Penalties for filing late can mount up at a rate of 5% of the amount of tax due for each month that you’re late.

• For example, if you owe $2,500 and are three months late, the late-filing penalty would be $375. x 3 = $375
• If you’re more than 60 days late, the minimum penalty is $100 or 100% of the tax due with the return, whichever is less.
• Filing for the extension wipes out the penalty file by the extension deadline.

TurboTax Easy Extension is a fast and easy way to file your extension, right from your computer.

Individual Income Tax Filing Due Dates

• Typically, most people must file their tax return by May 1.
• Fiscal year filers: Returns are due the 15th day of the 4th month after the close of your fiscal year.

If the due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, you have until the next business day to file with no penalty.

Filing Extensions

Cant file by the deadline? Virginia allows an automatic 6-month extension to file your return . No application is required. You still need to pay any taxes owed on time to avoid additional penalties and interest. Make an extension payment.

• Foreign Income Exclusion

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Do I Also Get More Time To File My State Taxes Then

In most instances.

Even though the IRS extended the federal filing deadline, it was up to individual states to set their own tax deadlines.

And most have extended their filing deadlines to May 17 to align with the federal schedule. They include Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana,Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Some states filing dates differ. They are Hawaii, April 20 Iowa, June 1 Maryland, July 15 and Oklahoma June 15, although technically that only applies to tax payments, whereas returns still had to be filed by April 15.

In Louisiana, the deadline is May 17, although residents living in federally declared disaster areas due to the February winter storm have until June 15.