When Does The IRS Start Accepting Tax Returns For 2025? Free Direct File For Florida Residents
The Internal Revenue Service confirmed that the nation’s tax season will start for individual tax return filers on Monday, January 27, 2025, when the tax agency will begin accepting and processing 2024 tax year returns.
The IRS says that it expects more than 140 million individual tax returns for tax year 2024 to be filed ahead of the Tuesday, April 15 federal deadline.
When is the IRS accepting 2024 returns?
Monday, January 27, 2025.
Free Direct File For Florida Residents
This year, Direct File will be available starting January 27, 2025, to taxpayers in 25 states, including Florida, to file their taxes directly with the IRS for free.
Direct File will include new features this year to make filing taxes quicker and easier. Similar to commercial tax software, a data import tool will allow taxpayers to opt-in to automatically import data from their IRS account, including personal information, the taxpayer’s IP PIN and some information from the taxpayer’s W-2.
This year, Direct File users can try a new chat bot to help guide them through the eligibility checker. Live chat will again be available in English and Spanish, and users can opt into additional authentication and verification, which will allow customer service representatives to provide more information.
Also, this year, Direct File will cover more tax situations. During the pilot, Direct File supported taxpayers claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Credit for Other Dependents. This year, Direct File will also cover taxpayers claiming the:
Child and Dependent Care Credit
Premium Tax Credit
Credit for the Elderly and Disabled
Retirement Savings Contribution Credits
In addition to covering taxpayers claiming the standard deduction and deductions for student loan interest and educator expenses, this year, Direct File will support taxpayers claiming deductions for Health Savings Accounts. The Treasury Department estimates that more than 30 million taxpayers will be eligible to use Direct File across the 25 states.
IRS E-File Start Date
IRS Free File will also be available on IRS.gov starting January 10 in advance of the filing season opening.
While taxpayers may prepare returns through the IRS’ Free File program as well as many tax software companies and tax professionals before the start date, processing of those returns will begin after IRS systems open later this month.
