Income Tax Service 5200 W Market St Greensboro, NC 27409 336-852-9505

Terry Hough President

You may read or hear that tax season is delayed.

Well, that is sort of true. But, the operational facts are slightly different.

The IRS has announced that they will not be accepting any individual tax returns (paper or electronic) before January 31, 2013. They are blaming this delay (yes, it will delay your refund!) on the government shutdown a few months ago. Here is a part of their announcement:

2014 Tax Season to Open Jan. 31; e-file Can Speed Refunds
Dec. 18, 2013 - WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service today announced plans to open the 2014 filing season on Jan. 31 and encouraged taxpayers to use e-file as the fastest way to receive refunds.

The new opening date for individuals to file their 2013 tax returns will allow the IRS adequate time to program and test its tax processing systems. The annual process for updating IRS systems saw significant delays in October following the 16-day federal government closure.

Our teams have been working hard throughout the fall to prepare for the upcoming tax season,” IRS Acting Commissioner Danny Werfel said. “The late January opening gives us enough time to get things right with our programming, testing and systems validation. It’s a complex process, and our bottom-line goal is to provide a smooth filing and refund process for the nation’s taxpayers.

The government closure meant the IRS had to change the original opening date from Jan. 21 to Jan. 31, 2014. The 2014 date is one day later than the 2013 filing season opening, which started on Jan. 30, 2013, following January tax law changes made by Congress on Jan. 1 under the American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA). The extensive set of ATRA tax changes affected many 2012 tax returns, which led to the late January opening.

The April 15 tax deadline is set by statute and will remain in place.

Our ElectroFile preparers will begin working on January 13th to assist you with your tax return. So, don't wait. If you have your information ready, call for an appointment or come on in. We will prepare your return and have it queued for the IRS to process the moment they open for business on January 31st.

Our office hours beginning January 13th will be 9am to 7pm Monday through Friday and 9am to 3pm on Saturday.

What options do I have for getting my tax refund in my hands this year?

How can I get my refund?	When do I have to pay preparation fees?
IRS Paper Check - your entire refund is mailed to your filing address by the IRS on a paper check.	Preparation fees must be paid upfront before filing.
IRS Direct Deposit - your entire refund deposited into your checking or savings account by the IRS.	Preparation fees must be paid upfront before filing.
Bank Direct Deposit - your net refund deposited into your checking or savings account via a bank when the IRS releases your refund.	Preparation fees are deducted by the bank and paid directly to ElectroFile. No cash upfront. A small bank fee also applies.
Bank Debit Card - your net refund deposited onto a "cash" debit card via a bank when the IRS releases your refund.	Preparation fees are deducted by the bank and paid directly to ElectroFile. No cash upfront. A small bank fee also applies.
Bank Paper Check - your net refund via a bank when the IRS releases your refund. We print the check in our office and you pick it up here at our office. These checks are cashable at Wells Fargo or WalMart for a small fee (expect $7-$10).	Preparation fees are deducted by the bank and paid directly to ElectroFile. No cash upfront. A small bank fee also applies.

Your ElectroFile preparer will explain these refund options to you in detail. They will also inform you of any applicable bank fees. And, they will discuss the anticipated time frames for each method. As usual, your ElectroFile preparer will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.