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By Katelyn Washington

It’s essential to know when taxes are due in 2024. And, for many people, there are more tax deadlines to worry about than just the due date for your federal income tax return. The IRS can hit you with penalties and interest if you miss a tax deadline. 

• For example, the standard penalty for failing to file your annual tax return on time is 5% of the tax due for each month (or partial month) your return is late. 
• If you don’t pay your taxes on time, the monthly penalty is 0.5% of the unpaid amount, up to 25% of what you owe. 
• You will also owe interest on the unpaid taxes. Penalties apply to missing other tax deadlines, too. 

However, it can be hard to keep track of every IRS tax deadline. (After all, there’s at least one monthly tax deadline.) So, to make things easier, here are the most important 2024 federal income tax due dates for individual taxpayers. 

April is an important month for taxes. For most people, April 15 is the last day file a 2023 tax return, unless you file an application for an automatic six-month tax extension with the IRS, which is also due on April 15. If you a household worker (for example, a nanny), you also have until April 15 to file Schedule H and pay their employment taxes.

• April 15 is also the last day that you can contribute to an IRA or health savings account (HSA) for 2023. 
• In addition, except for those who request an extension to file their 2023 tax return, April 15 is the deadline for self-employed people to contribute to a solo 401(k) or a simplified employee pension (SEP) plan for 2023. 
• If you made excess IRA contributions in 2023, these must also be withdrawn by April 15.

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from IRS.gov

IR-2023-210, Nov. 13, 2023

WASHINGTON — With the nation’s tax season rapidly approaching, the Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers there are important steps they can take now to help “get ready” to file their 2023 federal tax return.

This is the first in a series of special IRS “Get Ready” reminders to help taxpayers prepare for the upcoming tax filing season in early 2024. A little advance work now can help people have the paperwork and information ready to file their tax returns quickly and accurately. As part of this education effort, the IRS has a special page outlining items taxpayers can look into now to get ready to file their 2023 tax returns.

Get helpful information to file through IRS Online Account

Taxpayers can create or access their Online Account at IRS.gov/account. New users should have their photo identification ready.

With an Online Account taxpayers can access a variety of helpful information to help them during the 2024 filing season, including:

• View key data from the most recently filed tax return, including adjusted gross income.
• Get account transcripts.
• Sign power of attorney and tax information authorizations.
• Receive notices electronically.
• Get email notifications for new account information or activity.
• Make and view payments.
• View, create or change payment plans.
• See the amount owed by year.

Gather, organize and update tax records

Read more at https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-season-rapidly-approaching-get-ready-now-to-file-2023-federal-income-tax-returns-in-early-2024

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Daniel de Visé

Published Dec. 26th 2023

The pause between Christmas and New Year’s is a moment when many of us begin to contemplate the looming labors of tax season.

When is the earliest I can file a return? When is the latest? Have the income brackets changed? What about deductions?

Here are answers to 13 common questions that crop up in the weeks before tax season begins:

When is the tax deadline in 2024?

April 15. Tax Day always falls on that date, unless April 15 falls on a weekend or holiday. Next year, it comes on that darkest of days, a Monday.

When does tax season start?

Late January. In 2023, the IRS set Jan. 23 as the official start of tax season, marking the date the agency began accepting 2022 tax returns.

How early can I file my 2023 taxes?

Again, late January. The IRS has not yet set the date it will begin accepting 2023 returns.

Read more at https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2023/12/26/2024-tax-season-questions/72002518007/

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Updated; November 17, 2021

irs.gov

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced the launch of an improved identity verification and sign-in process that enables more people to securely access and use IRS online tools and applications.

Taxpayers using the new mobile-friendly verification procedure can gain entry to existing IRS online services such as the:

• Child Tax Credit Update Portal,
• Online Account,
• Get Transcript Online,
• Get an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) and
• Online Payment Agreement.

Additional IRS applications will transition to the new method over the next year.

“Identity verification is critical to protect taxpayers and their information. The IRS has been working hard to make improvements in this area, and this new verification process is designed to make IRS online applications as secure as possible for people,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “To help taxpayers and the tax community, we are improving the accessibility of online tools that help families manage their Child Tax Credit, check on their IRS accounts and securely perform other routine tasks online.”

The new process can reach more people through the expanded use of identity documents and increased help desk assistance for taxpayers who encounter a problem when attempting to verify their identity online. Developed under the Secure Access Digital Identity initiative (SADI), the new process complies with a federal mandate.

To provide verification services, the IRS is using ID.me, a trusted technology provider. The new process is one more step the IRS is taking to ensure that taxpayer information is provided only to the person who legally has a right to the data.

The IRS also integrated this new account-creation process into some applications used by tax professionals, including those used to request powers of attorney or tax information authorizations online using Tax Pro Account or to submit Forms 2848 and 8821 online.

Accessing IRS tools

When accessing the tools listed above, taxpayers will be asked to sign in with an ID.me account. People who already have IRS usernames may continue to use their credentials from the old system to sign-in until summer 2022, but are prompted to create an ID.me account as soon as possible. Anyone with an existing ID.me account from the Child Tax Credit Update Portal, or from another government agency, can sign in with their existing credentials.

To verify their identity with ID.me, taxpayers need to provide a photo of an identity document such as a driver’s license, state ID or passport. They’ll also need to take a selfie with a smartphone or a computer with a webcam. Once their identity has been verified, they can securely access IRS online services.

Taxpayers who need help verifying their identity or submitting a support ticket can visit the ID.me IRS Help Site.

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IR-2021-09, January 12, 2021

irs.gov

IRS YouTube Video:

• Get an Identity Protection PIN – English | Spanish

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today expanded the Identity Protection PIN Opt-In Program to all taxpayers who can verify their identities.

The Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) is a six-digit code known only to the taxpayer and to the IRS. It helps prevent identity thieves from filing fraudulent tax returns using a taxpayers’ personally identifiable information.

“This is a way to, in essence, lock your tax account, and the IP PIN serves as the key to opening that account,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “Electronic returns that do not contain the correct IP PIN will be rejected, and paper returns will go through additional scrutiny for fraud.”

The IRS launched the IP PIN program nearly a decade ago to protect confirmed identity theft victims from ongoing tax-related fraud. In recent years, the IRS expanded the program to specific states where taxpayers could voluntarily opt into the IP PIN program. Now, the voluntary program is going nationwide.

About the IP PIN Opt-In Program

Here are a few key things to know about the IP PIN Opt-In program:

• This is a voluntary program.
• You must pass a rigorous identity verification process.
• Spouses and dependents are eligible for an IP PIN if they can verify their identities.
• An IP PIN is valid for a calendar year.
• You must obtain a new IP PIN each filing season.
• The online IP PIN tool is offline between November and mid-January each year.
• Correct IP PINs must be entered on electronic and paper tax returns to avoid rejections and delays.
• Never share your IP PIN with anyone but your trusted tax provider. The IRS will never call, text or email requesting your IP PIN. Beware of scams to steal your IP PIN.
• There currently is no opt-out option but the IRS is working on one for 2022.

How to get an IP PIN

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from irs.gov

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