When Do Taxes Come In 2021

How Do I File Online

There are several ways to file online, depending on your income and your comfort level in dealing with the whole income tax process.

If your adjusted gross income was $73,000 or under, you can use the IRS Free File option. The site offers a number of third-party services that can help you put together and file your taxes free of charge. Of course, that is assuming the third party doesnt try to scam you into paying more than you have to back in April of 2019, ProPublica revealed that TurboTax and other suppliers were deliberately hiding the pages for their free services in order to convince taxpayers to purchase additional features. As a result, in early 2020, the IRS published rules prohibiting these practices. Still, it pays to be careful.

Free File is available for those whose income is $73,000 or less.

If your income is above $73,000, you can still use fillable forms provided by IRS Free File, but you dont get the support of the free software, and you cant do your state taxes through this method. The forms will be available starting on January 24th.

If you use a tax preparer, the person or company who does your taxes needs to be authorized to use e-file if you dont already have a tax professional, you can find one at the IRS site.

Will My Refund Be Issued By Paper Check Or Electronically

Previously, the Department might have issued you a paper check, even if you selected to receive your refund by direct deposit or prepaid debit card. This protection helped the Department avoid sending your money to an account or debit card that is controlled by a criminal.

While the Department honors taxpayer requests to issue a refund electronically, there may be situations in which we will determine its safer to issue a paper check. In some cases, we may send a letter requesting verification of taxpayer identity instead of automatically changing your request to a paper check. The letter instructs you to go to myVTax, select Return filing verification, and enter the verification code included on the letter. This verifies your request and allows us to proceed with processing your refund.

Awaiting Processing Of Previous Tax Returns People Can Still File 2021 Returns

Rettig noted that IRS employees continue to work hard on critical areas affected by the pandemic, including processing of tax returns from last year and record levels of phone calls coming in.

“In many areas, we are unable to deliver the amount of service and enforcement that our taxpayers and tax system deserves and needs. This is frustrating for taxpayers, for IRS employees and for me,” Rettig said. “IRS employees want to do more, and we will continue in 2022 to do everything possible with the resources available to us. And we will continue to look for ways to improve. We want to deliver as much as possible while also protecting the health and safety of our employees and taxpayers. Additional resources are essential to helping our employees do more in 2022 and beyond.”

The IRS continues to reduce the inventory of prior-year individual tax returns that have not been fully processed. As of December 3, 2021, the IRS has processed nearly 169 million tax returns. All paper and electronic individual 2020 refund returns received prior to April 2021 have been processed if the return had no errors or did not require further review.

Taxpayers generally will not need to wait for their 2020 return to be fully processed to file their 2021 tax returns and can file when they are ready.

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Estimated Irs Refund Tax Schedule For 2021 Tax Returns

In prior years, the IRS issued its refund tax schedule to provide a timeline of when you can expect to receive your tax refund. While the IRS no longer publishes a refund tax schedule, we put together an estimate of when you might expect to receive your tax refund based on previous years.

When Can I File My Tax Return

The first official day to file your 2021 tax return is Jan. 24, 2022. However, many tax software programs will allow you to complete your return and file it before that date, including IRS Free File, which opens Jan. 14. They will then hold the returns until the IRS begins accepting them. Some taxpayers who submit their electronic tax return early may be able to participate in the IRS HUB Testing program. This is a controlled testing of the federal tax return system. The IRS processes a small percentage of tax returns from major software providers to test the tax return submission process and allow for fixing bugs before opening the doors to all taxpayers.

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How Long Does It Take To Receive My Tax Refund

Approximately 90% of taxpayers will receive their refunds in less than 21 days from the day their tax return was accepted by the IRS. Most people receive their refunds in an average of 10-14 days.

Your bank will usually make your payment available within one to three days of receiving the payment from the IRS. Checks may take longer to clear your bank.

Is Social Security Taxable

Social Security income is generally taxable at the federal level, though whether or not you have to pay taxes on your Social Security benefits depends on your income level. If you have other sources of retirement income, such as a 401 or a part-time job, then you should expect to pay some income taxes on your Social Security benefits. If you rely exclusively on your Social Security checks, though, you probably wont pay taxes on your benefits. State taxes on Social Security, on the other hand, vary from state to state. Regardless, it can be helpful to work with a financial advisor who can help you understand how different sources of retirement income are taxed.

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Ready To Start Your 2022 Tax Prep

If youre ready to dive into your taxes, you can check out this comprehensive summary of 2022 tax changes courtesy of the IRS.

Even if youre not ready to jump into 2022 tax planning mode just yet, keep in mind its a good time to check your tax withholdings and make adjustments if necessary. Just make sure you file your 2021 return or ask for an extension by the April 18, 2022 deadline. If you cant afford your tax bill for 2021, its essential that you file a tax return anyway and ask for an IRS payment plan.

Robin Hartill is a certified financial planner and a senior writer at The Penny Hoarder. She writes the Dear Penny personal finance advice column. Send your tricky money questions to

How To Check Your Tax Refund Status

You can check your tax return status online using the IRS Wheres My Refund? tool. To use this tool, youll need the following information:

• Your Social Security number or ITIN
• Your filing status
• Your exact refund amount

The tool can tell you the status of your refund from 24 hours after you e-file, or four weeks after you mail your return. The system is updated each day, usually overnight.

You can also call the IRS TeleTax System at 1-800- 829-4477 to check the status of your refund over the phone. Be aware that the volume of calls trying to reach IRS representatives is at an all-time high, and the IRS recommends that you do not attempt to call until 21 days after you e-file or four weeks after you mail your return.

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What Is The Last Day To Contribute To My Retirement Account For 2019

As with other elements of the extension, individuals can wait to make 2019 contributions to their retirement accounts normally due April 15, 2020 until July 15, 2020. Consider using this extra time to set aside more money in your retirement accounts if you’re able. You can contribute a maximum of $6,000 to an IRA for 2019, plus an extra $1,000 if you’re 50 or older.

You don’t need to wait to file your tax return to make this contribution, however. If you know how much you’ll contribute by the tax deadline, you can put this on your tax return and make the actual contribution by the new deadline.

Will There Be Tax Delays Due To Covid

The IRS is warning that a resurgence of COVID-19 infections on top of less funding authorization from Congress than the Biden administration had requested could make this filing season particularly challenging.

The pandemic continues to create challenges, but the IRS reminds people there are important steps they can take to help ensure their tax return and refund don’t face processing delays, IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said.

Avoiding a paper tax return will be more important than ever this year to avert processing delays, he said.

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My Spouse Has Passed Away And My Tax Refund Check Was Issued In Both Names How Can I Get This Corrected

Since a joint return was filed, the refund check must be issued jointly. When presenting the check for payment, you may want to include a copy of the death certificate to show you as surviving spouse. You may return the check to the Department and we will include “Surviving Spouse” and “Deceased” next to the respective names on the check. Should you need to return the check, please mail to: NC Department of Revenue, Attn: Customer Service, P O Box 1168, Raleigh NC 27602-1168.

How Can I Make Sure I Get My Refund As Fast As Possible

Each tax filing is as unique as the individual it represents. To help expedite the tax refund process, consider one or more of the following tips:

• Visit us at any H& R Block office to ensure your return is ready to file when e-file opens.
• Consider e-filing versus traditional paper filing.
• Complete a tax return that is free of any errors or miscalculations. This means carefully reviewing personal information such as your name, social security number, home address and bank information, if applicable.

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The Standard Deduction Is Higher

Most taxpayers get the biggest tax savings by taking advantage of the standard deduction instead of itemizing. For 2022, the standard deduction is:

• $12,950 for single filers and people who are married filing separately, a $400 increase.
• $25,900 for married couples and surviving spouses, an $800 increase.
• $19,400 for heads of household, a $600 increase.

Tax Day For Individuals Extended To May 1: Treasury Irs Extend Filing And Payment Deadline

IR-2021-59, March 17, 2021

WASHINGTON The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced today that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year will be automatically extended from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. The IRS will be providing formal guidance in the coming days.

“This continues to be a tough time for many people, and the IRS wants to continue to do everything possible to help taxpayers navigate the unusual circumstances related to the pandemic, while also working on important tax administration responsibilities,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “Even with the new deadline, we urge taxpayers to consider filing as soon as possible, especially those who are owed refunds. Filing electronically with direct deposit is the quickest way to get refunds, and it can help some taxpayers more quickly receive any remaining stimulus payments they may be entitled to.”

Individual taxpayers can also postpone federal income tax payments for the 2020 tax year due on April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This postponement applies to individual taxpayers, including individuals who pay self-employment tax. Penalties, interest and additions to tax will begin to accrue on any remaining unpaid balances as of May 17, 2021. Individual taxpayers will automatically avoid interest and penalties on the taxes paid by May 17.

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My Refund Check Is Now Six Months Old Will The Bank Still Cash The Check

A check from the NC Department of Revenue is valid up to six months after the date on the check. If a check date is older than six months, you should mail a letter along with the refund check to NC Department of Revenue, Attn: Customer Service, P O Box 1168, Raleigh, NC 27602-1168. Your check will be re-validated and re-mailed to you.

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About Ryan Guina

Ryan Guina is The Military Wallet’s founder. He is a writer, small business owner, and entrepreneur. He served over six years on active duty in the USAF and is a current member of the Illinois Air National Guard.

Ryan started The Military Wallet in 2007 after separating from active duty military service and has been writing about financial, small business, and military benefits topics since then. He also writes about personal finance and investing at Cash Money Life.

Ryan uses Personal Capital to track and manage his finances. Personal Capital is a free software program that allows him to track his net worth, balance his investment portfolio, track his income and expenses, and much more. You can open a free Personal Capital account here.

Featured In: Ryan’s writing has been featured in the following publications: Forbes, Military.com, US News & World Report, Yahoo Finance, Reserve & National Guard Magazine , Military Influencer Magazine, Cash Money Life, The Military Guide, USAA, Go Banking Rates, and many other publications.

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How To Check The Status Of Your Tax Return

You should be able to check IRS tax refund status roughly 24 hours after you receive confirmation from the IRS that they have received your tax refund via e-File. You will need to wait at least four weeks if you mailed in your tax return.

The best way to check the status of your federal tax refund is to visit the Wheres My Refund page at the IRS website.

What you will need:

• Exact refund amount

You can also call the IRS at 1-800-829-1954 or 1-800-829-4477 or 1-800-829-1040 and inquire about your tax return status with an IRS customer service representative. Note that the IRS only updates tax return statuses once a day during the week, usually between midnight and 6 a.m. They do not update the status more than once a day, so checking throughout the day will not give you a different result.

Should I call the IRS to check my federal tax refund status?

The IRS has stated you should only call them if it has been:

• 21 days or more since you e-filed
• Six weeks or more since you mailed your return, or when
• Wheres My Refund tells you to contact the IRS

Use The Irswheres My Refund Online Tool

Since 2003, the IRS has provided an online tool that lets you track the status of your refund electronically. You can access the tool, called Wheres My Refund?, as soon as 24 hours after you e-file your tax return . You can also download the IRS2Go app to track your tax refund on your mobile device.

Youll need the following information to check the status of your refund online:

• Social Security number or ITIN .
• Filing status .
• Exact amount of the refund listed on your tax return.

Once you input the required data, youll encounter one of three status settings.

The IRS updates refund status once a day, usually overnight.

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Is Social Security Income Taxable

According to the IRS, the best way to see if youll owe taxes on your Social Security income is to take one half of your Social Security benefits and add that amount to all your other income, including tax-exempt interest. This number is known as your combined income, and this is how its calculated:

Combined Income = Adjusted Gross Income + Nontaxable Interest + 1/2 of Social Security benefits

If your combined income is above a certain limit , you will need to pay at least some tax. The limit for 2022 is $25,000 if you are a single filer, head of household or qualifying widow or widower with a dependent child. The 2022 limit for joint filers is $32,000. However, if youre married and file separately, youll likely have to pay taxes on your Social Security income.

Local Taxpayer Service Offices

Taxpayer Service Offices will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday by appointment only. In order to make an appointment at one of our branch offices, please access the appointment scheduler at . Our branch offices will assist taxpayers to fill out and electronically file Maryland income tax forms for free. Please bring any W-2 statements or other withholding statements, such as 1099s, that you have, along with your completed federal income tax return.

Taxpayers can receive assistance via phone.

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