2025 tax season in US officially starts on January 27

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The IRS announced January 27 as the official start of the 2025 tax season, with over 140 million tax returns expected by the April 15 deadline.

This comes amid a significant modernization effort funded by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which aims to improve technology and customer service.

The IRS is expanding its Direct File program, allowing taxpayers in 25 states to file their returns directly with the agency for free, up from 12 states in last year's pilot. Refunds are expected to be issued in less than 21 days, and taxpayers can track their status within 24 hours of e-filing through the Where's My Refund? tool.

Key goals for the 2025 season include offering 10,000 extended office hours, expanding rural outreach by 20 percent, and simplifying taxpayer notifications. Commissioner Daniel Werfel emphasized the agency's commitment to increasing awareness of the Earned Income Tax Credit, noting that nearly 1 in 5 eligible taxpayers fail to claim it.

The IRS also cautions against tax scams, urging filers to be vigilant against fraudulent promises of assistance or threats demanding penalties. Resources to identify scams are available on IRS.gov.

"Continued investment in the nation's tax system has driven historic improvements, but there's more to be done," Werfel said, highlighting the importance of multiyear funding to sustain progress.