The 2025 tax season began on 27 Jan 2025 for the 2024 tax year. The taxpayers must start filing their tax returns and complete their tax responsibilities timely. The deadline to file the tax returns is 15 April 2025 except for the disaster-affected areas.
The taxpayers who are preparing to file their 2024 tax returns should know their tax return processing can be delayed due to some reasons, so to ensure you do not make such a mistake and make your tax return delayed, check out the possible reasons for tax return delay here.
IRS Tax Return Delays 2025
The Internal Revenue Service officially started the 2025 tax season last week; taxpayers have started to file their tax returns. The IRS has always advised taxpayers to file their tax returns carefully, otherwise, it can delay their tax return processing which could eventually affect the tax refund payment dates.
Taxpayers who wish to receive their tax refund faster should ensure their tax return is processed without any delays. The most probable reasons for the tax return delays are the following that every taxpayer should be aware of:
- You have entered invalid or incorrect tax information in the tax form that may affect the tax return reviewing process.
- You entered the incorrect amounts of the credit you are claiming, for instance, Child tax credit, Recovery rebate credit, EITC, and others.
- You have missed some forms to attach with the tax form that were necessary to report to the agency, like income form, foreign income form, etc.
- If you are filing the tax returns jointly, then both spouses’ signs are required on the tax return with a date or e-filer PIN to process the IRS tax return.
Such common errors can delay your IRS tax return processing and may lead the agency to inform you that some information is missing, hence you need to send the additional documents to get your tax return processed timely.
Tips to Avoid IRS Tax Return Delays 2025
The IRS has advised taxpayers to avoid the common mistake and follow the below tips to avoid delay in their tax return processing:
- You should file the tax return electronically, either through Free File or any other e-file services to reduce the mistakes as the Tax software assists you in filing the correct tax return. The tax software calculates the refund, creates, and deductions for you so that you do not make mistakes in calculation.
- You should check the filing status and ensure that you are filing the tax return through the correct filing status, if you are unsure of which filing status is for you, you can take Interactive Tax Assistant help and get your filing status.
- You should ensure you have filed all the IRS forms required to report with IRS tax return based on your situation, like W-2, and 1099 Forms, and report all the income.
- You must double-check the information you have entered from your Social Security Number to DOB & name before filing the tax return.
- You must ensure you enter the correct mailing address and account numbers on the tax return.
- You must keep a copy of the filed and signed tax return for the tax records for future reference.
- Taxpayers who think they cannot file the tax return before the 15 April 2025 deadline due to financial hardships or other conditions can apply for an extension to file the tax return till 17 October without facing the consequences of penalties. The taxpayers should apply for the extension before the deadline through IRS Form 4868, but they should keep one thing in mind, with an extension they get the time to file the tax return only, and the tax payments should be made before the tax deadline.
What are the key documents to File the IRS tax return 2025?
Taxpayers preparing to file for the 2024 tax returns this tax season should mark the following key documents for filing:
- Forms W-2, 1099, and others
- Unemployment compensation,
- Social Security Number
- Current Address
- Self-select PIN (if you e-file taxes last year)
- IP PIN (for victims of identity theft)
- Bank account information
- Documents for credits or deductions
- Self-employment documents and others.
IRS Tax Return e-filing Methods
Taxpayers are advised to file their tax returns through electronic methods because it is easy to process & review and makes the IRS work easier. Taxpayers can file their 2024 tax return through the following e-filing methods and avoid the tax return delays:
- IRS Free File: The IRS allows certain taxpayers to file their tax returns electronically through the Free File option, where the taxpayers file tax returns with the assistance of the taxpayer software participating with the agency. The taxpayers can access the taxpayer software for free through the Free File option and avoid common errors while filing tax returns.
- IRS Direct File: The IRS Direct File allows taxpayers to file taxes directly without paying any charges. The agency has made the IRS Direct File method available to 25 US states only for this tax season, so taxpayers who wish to file taxes through this method should check if their state has the Direct File return availability.
- Tax professionals: You can get help from tax professionals, such as certified public accountants, enrolled agents, tax attorneys, or others to e-file their tax returns.
- VITA: The elderly citizens who need assistance to file the tax returns can take the tax assistance through VITA or TCE (Tax Counselling for the Elderly) and complete their tax responsibilities.
How can you know if the IRS has accepted your tax return?
The taxpayers should know the IRS allows them to track their IRS tax refund through the Where’s My Refund tool. The same tool can help you let you know if the IRS has accepted your tax return or in the first stage of the tool status.
Taxpayers can access the Where’s My Refund tool on the IRS online services or mobile app easily. The e-filers can track the status of the IRS tax return within 24 hours or 48 hours of filing the tax returns. Taxpayers can track the IRS tax refund status easily through their tax information such as:
- Social Security number
- Tax year
- Refund Amount
- Filing status
Apart from the Where’s My Refund tool, you can also check the most recent tax return information from the IRS individual Online account.
The IRS tax season is going on; taxpayers should ensure their tax return is processed timely to receive the tax refund or credits timely and complete their tax responsibilities.