2018 Tax Filing Season to Begin January 29

In a recent News Release, the IRS announced that the 2018 tax filing season will begin on Monday, 1/29/18, which means that electronic and paper returns will be accepted beginning on that day. However, the IRS will begin processing paper returns in mid-February as its systems continue to update. Also, by operation of law, refunds on returns claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) cannot be issued before mid-February [ IRC Sec. 6402(m) ]. The IRS expects the earliest EITC/ACTC related refunds to be available starting on 2/27/18 (if direct deposit is chosen and there are no other issues with the return). Tax returns are due on April 17 because of a weekend and the Emancipation Day holiday. News Release IR 2018-1.