Things You Should Be Aware Of This Tax Season
Tax season officially began on Jan. 23. Rather than the traditional filing deadline of April 15, this year we have until April 18 to file. In this issue, we’ll share a few other tips you may need to know for this tax season.
- Appointment now needed to see IRS agent. You’ll no longer be able to drop into an IRS office for help. That’s because all IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers are appointment-only now.
You can make an appointment by calling 844-545-5640. It’s also recommended that you visit IRS.gov for the days and hours of operation.
- You may need a new Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). You’ll need to file for a new ITIN if the one you have hasn’t been used in the past three (3) years and if your number has the middle digits 78 or 79.
The major hiccup with that is that it can take up to 11 weeks during the peak of tax season from the time you file for the new number before you actually get that number. That’s because of a new federal law designed to fight fraud.
- Check your W-2 Form for a verification code. About 50 million W-2 forms this year will have a 16-digit verification code that you may need to add when prompted by tax filing software. Last year, there were about 2 million filers who had the code.
The IRS wants the codes to ultimately be used on all W-2 forms in the future. The code is another attempt at combating fraud.
- Be wary of quick-cash on tax refund advances. You’ll probably see lots of advertising pitches of “no fee tax filings.” Many well-known companies are offering them, but the filer is often on the hook for other services or products which will be deducted from their actual return.
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