COVID Tax Tip 2022-64, April 26, 2022
Taxpayers with an extension can file when they are ready but most should file by October 17, 2022. Special deadline exceptions may apply for some disaster victims, certain military service members and eligible support personnel in combat zones.
When individuals with an extension are ready to file, IRS.gov has a variety of tools and resources to help make filing easier. Here are a few of them:
Free electronic filing
Taxpayers who electronically prepare and file online will likely have fewer mistakes on their tax return. Electronic filing options like IRS Free File or commercial tax software do the math, flag common errors and ask for missing information. Taxpayers with income over $73,000 and those who are comfortable completing their tax returns may choose to use IRS Free File Fillable Forms.
The military community can also file their taxes using MilTax, a free tax resource offered through the Department of Defense. Eligible taxpayers can use MilTax to electronically file a federal tax return and up to three state returns for free.
Interactive Tax Assistant
This online tool provides answers to tax law questions.
Directory of Tax Return Preparers
For taxpayers who want help with their taxes, this online directory can help them find a tax professional in their area.
Reconciling advance child tax credit or claiming recovery rebate credit
People who need to reconcile advance child tax credit payments or claim the recovery rebate credit will need additional information about 2021 payments to file an accurate tax return and avoid a processing delay.
These individuals must have the total amounts of advance child tax credit payments to receive the remainder of their child tax credit and the amount of their third round Economic Impact Payment to claim a recovery rebate credit. Taxpayers should check their online account or review Letter 6419, 2021 Total Advance Child Tax Credit Payments, and Letter 6475, Your 2021 Economic Impact Payment, for their total payment amounts. This will help them file an accurate return. Married spouses who received joint payments will need to log into their own online account or review their own letter for their portion of the total payment. If filing a 2021 return as married filing jointly, they should add the payments together to provide the total amount.
Where’s My Refund?
Taxpayers can check the status of their refund within 24 hours after the IRS has received their e-filed return. Once the IRS approves a refund, Where’s My Refund? will give will give the taxpayer a date to expect it. The IRS updates this tool once a day, usually overnight, so there’s no need to check the status more often. Agency employees can only research a taxpayer’s refund status 21 days after the taxpayer filed electronically or if Where’s My Refund? directs the taxpayer to call the IRS.
The IRS issues most refunds in fewer than 21 days for taxpayers who file electronically and choose direct deposit. However, some returns have errors or need more review and may take longer to process.
Things that can delay a refund:
- The return has errors, is incomplete or is affected by identity theft or fraud.
- The return needs a correction to the child tax credit or recovery rebate credit amount.
- The return has a claim filed for an earned income tax credit, additional child tax credit, or includes a Form 8379, Injured Spouse AllocationPDF.
- The time it takes a taxpayer’s bank or credit union to post the refund to the taxpayer’s account.
- The IRS will contact taxpayers by mail if it needs more information to process their return.