2025 Tax Season for Tax Year 2024 Starts on January 27, 2025 | Tax Lawyers Minneapolis
On January 10, 2025, the Internal Revenue Service announced that the federal 2025 tax season for the tax year 2024 will start on January 27, 2025.
2025 Tax Season: IRS Expectations on the Number of Tax Returns
The IRS expects more than 140 million individual tax returns for tax year 2024 to be filed ahead of the Tuesday, April 15, 2025 federal tax deadline. More than half of all tax returns are expected to be filed this year with the help of a tax professional. In fact, the IRS encourages taxpayers to use a tax professional to file their tax returns.
2025 Tax Season: IRS Boasts Modernization
The IRS stated that the 2025 tax season will reflect continued IRS progress to modernize and add new tools and features to help taxpayers. The improvements will include: more access to tax account information from text and voice virtual assistants, expanded features on the IRS Individual Online Account, more access to dozens of tax forms through cell phones and tablets and expanded alerts for scams and schemes that threaten taxpayers.
2025 Tax Season: IRS Direct File Software
Additionally, this tax season, the IRS offers an improved version of its flagship Direct File service with expanded features and availability. This year, Direct File will be available starting January 27 to taxpayers in 25 states. In addition, the IRS Free File program already opened on January 10, 2025. Available only on IRS.gov, IRS Free File Guided Tax Software provides millions of taxpayers with nationwide access to free software tools offered by trusted IRS Free File partners.
Direct File is a web-based service that works on mobile phones, laptops, tablets or desktop computers. It guides taxpayers through a series of questions to prepare their federal tax return step-by-step. Last year, thousands of Direct File users got help from IRS customer service representatives through a live chat feature in English and Spanish. Once taxpayers have completed their federal tax return, the Direct File system automatically guides them to state tools to complete their state tax filings.
Sherayzen Law Office does not recommend, however, using this software if you have US international tax compliance issues. The complexity is such that you should only use a professional tax preparer who has profound knowledge and experience in the subject matter.
2025 Tax Season: Improved Service
The IRS is also working to continue the success of the 2023 and 2024 tax filing seasons made possible with additional resources. The past two filing seasons saw levels of service at roughly 85% and wait times averaging less than 5 minutes on the main phone lines. Moreover, there was a significant increase in the number of taxpayers who used Taxpayer Assistance Centers across the country.
This year, the Direct File users can try a new IRS chat bot to help guide them through the eligibility checker. Live chat will be available in English and Spanish.