Tax Season 2025: When You Can File and What You Need to Know

The 2025 tax filing season is off and running. The IRS estimates that it will process more than 140 million individual tax returns this year. In this launch, the IRS made some of the biggest changes and technological updates ever in making it easier to file and assisting taxpayers. Here’s what you need to know as tax season begins.

Filing Season

The tax filing season begins on Monday, January 27, 2025 and runs through April 15, 2025, the traditional deadline. Returns are expected to exceed $300 billion, while the average refund is expected to remain around $3,100, based on last year’s figures.

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel explained that timely refunds are crucial. He said at a press conference, “For many households, this refund will be their biggest check of the year. Our employees know this and are committed to delivering for taxpayers.”

Technological Improvements

The IRS has made various technological improvements aimed at making filing easier and safer.

Increased Online Resources

Enhanced Online Account Notifications: Taxpayers will now get a prominent banner warning about scams or fraudulent schemes. These notices link to pages explaining how to identify legitimate IRS communications.
Re-designed Notices: The IRS redesigned 284 notices to make them more user-friendly, with 200 notices launched already and the remaining 84 to be launched later in 2025.

Mobile Accessibility

Taxpayers can now complete 67 forms on mobile devices. Drafts are saved so users can leave and return to their filing process when they wish. Even the joint filers can be e-signed on the same form without any additional inconvenience so that this is another more streamlined process.

Super Chat Bots

The IRS has enhanced its chat bot system to assist taxpayers 24/7. The bots use natural language processing to understand questions and give appropriate responses, guiding tax-related questions.

Chat Bots: Available in two modes – guided assistance with choice buttons and open text boxes for customized questions.
Voice Bot: Check refund status with a Social Security number, filing status, and estimated refund amount using English and Spanish.

These help in swift and easy facilitation, with lesser phone calls and in-person visits.

Early Filing

In case you can’t wait, the soonest you will file your return is on a Monday, which will be January 27, 2025. Early filing, besides being expedient about refund processing, avoids identity theft also.

What’s Next?

The Internal Revenue Service updates the tax filing process to allow the process of filing one’s return to be less daunting and even more accessible to all taxpayers. From the expansion of online tools to voice and chat bots, these updates are designed to deliver convenience, clarity, and security. If you haven’t begun preparing your return, now is a good time to gather your documents and look into these improved resources.