IRS To Open Tax Filing Season on Jan. 30

The Internal Revenue Service is planning to open the 2013 tax filing season and begin processing individual returns on Jan. 30.

The agency will begin accepting tax returns at the end of the month after updating forms and completing the testing of its processing system to reflect tax law changes enacted on Jan. 2 in Congress, IRS spokeswoman Dianne Besunder said.

As many as 120 million households will be able to start filing returns on Jan. 30.

“We have worked hard to open tax season as soon as possible,” IRS Acting Commissioner Steven Miller said. “This date ensures we have the time we need to update and test our processing systems.”

Persons claiming residential energy credits, depreciation of property or general business credits will likely be able to start filing in late February or March, Besunder said.

Most of these taxpayers tend to file closer to the April 15 deadline because their tax returns are more complex or they need an extension, she said.

The IRS had originally planned to open electronic filling this year on Jan. 22. An estimated 80 percent of taxpayers filed electronically in 2012.

For more information, visit the IRS’s website.