Northern Lights Accounting Service, Inc.

Come get some extra caffeine today. Today only double punch Sunday 💕 we have fresh cold brew and nitro on tap

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/smallbusiness/30-000-irs-agents-target-11-5-million-small-business-owners-in-massive-fraud-investigation/ar-BB1idwjK?ocid=msedgntp&pc=DCTS&cvid=fba121a16205446abce3644619615fc3&ei=51

30,000 IRS Agents Target 11.5 Million Small Business Owners in Massive Fraud Investigation In a dramatic turn of events, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has mobilized a formidable force of 30,000 agents to pursue an astonishing 11.5 million small business owners across the United States.

IRS Tax "$600 Rule" For Side Hustles if you're paid via PayPal, Venmo or Cash App. This ruling has been deferred for another year, so for 2024 transactions you will need to report income and expenses on your tax return as you will receive a 1099-K Form from one or all of them depending on what you are using. If you need assistance understanding this new IRS ruling, please contact us.

If you want to take advantage of the Gifting rules the Gift Tax Limit for 2023 is $17,000! You can gift $17,000 to as many people as you want without having to worry about paying the federal gift tax.

We get asked often on how individuals can save money on their taxes. Here are a few ways!
1. Max out your 401(k) plan.
2. Put more money into a tax-deferred retirement plan.
3. If you contribute to charity, contribute appreciated assets instead of cash. You must be over the standard deduction with state and local taxes, real estate taxes, mortgage interest, medical and other itemized deductions which is $13,850 single, $27,700 for joint filers or $20,800 for Head of Household, people age 65 and older may be eligible for a higher standard deduction amount.

RMD-Required Minimum Distributions and how help lower it:
SmartAsset.com
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), 401(k)s and other workplace plans can help you build wealth for the future while enjoying some tax benefits.

There's just one important thing you need to plan for: required minimum distributions (RMDs). The IRS requires you to begin taking distributions from certain retirement accounts in the year you turn 73.

If not properly planned for, these distributions could take a tax toll on your retirement nest egg. Applying some smart RMD strategies could help reduce distributions and potentially lower your tax bill.

Consulting a fiduciary financial advisor can be a great first step to factoring RMDs, and the potential tax repercussions, into your retirement plan. That's why we created a free tool to help match you with up to three financial advisors.

Click here to take our quick retirement quiz and get matched with vetted advisors in just a few minutes, each obligated to work in your best interest.

Research suggests people who work with a financial advisor feel more at ease about their finances and could end up with about 15% more money to spend in retirement.1

A 2022 Northwestern Mutual study found that 62% of U.S. adults admit their financial planning needs improvement. However, only 35% of Americans work with a financial advisor.2
What Are RMDs?

RMDs are amounts you're obligated to withdraw from certain tax-advantaged retirement plans, including:

Traditional IRAs
SEP IRAs
SIMPLE IRAs
401(k) plans
403(b) plans
457(b) plans
Profit-sharing plans
Other defined contribution plans

Roth IRAs don't have RMDs, so you can leave money in those accounts as long as you live. While Roth IRAs do not have RMDs for the original account holder, beneficiaries who inherit a Roth account may be subject to RMDs.
When Do RMDs Kick In?

Generally, RMDs begin at age 72. More specifically, the IRS says you must start taking them by your required begin date (RBD). The required begin date is April 1 of the year following the year in which you turn 72. So if you turn 72 on Oct. 5, then your RMDs must begin starting on April 1 of the next calendar year.

The amount you're required to withdraw is based on your account balance and life expectancy (according to IRS tables). Withdrawals are taxed at your ordinary income tax rate. Failing to take RMDs on schedule can result in a 50% tax penalty.
6 Strategies to Reduce RMD Taxes

Taking RMDs can be problematic from a tax perspective. If you have large balances in your IRAs or workplace retirement accounts, taking RMDs could inflate your tax bill. That's where it can be helpful to have a few RMD strategies in your back pocket to try and reduce what you owe.

Here are six common ways to potentially shrink your RMDs in order to minimize taxes:

1. Draw Down Your Account Early

Once you turn 59 ½, you can begin taking money from retirement accounts without a tax penalty. Taking larger distributions in the early years of your retirement can reduce your overall account balance, lowering your RMDs later. This option could make sense if you expect to be in a lower tax bracket when you retire.

Drawing down your retirement accounts before age 72 can offer another benefit. You may be able to delay taking Social Security benefits. The longer you delay benefits beyond your full retirement age, the more your benefit amount increases. If you can wait until age 70, for example, you'll receive 132% of your benefit amount.

2. Consider a Roth IRA Conversion

Roth IRAs offer the benefit of 100% tax-free qualified withdrawals – and they don't have RMDs. If you'd like to avoid RMDs, you could convert your traditional retirement funds to a Roth account. You'll have to pay tax on the conversion in the year it occurs. But it may be worth it to take a one-time tax bill hit in order to avoid RMDs and withdraw remaining retirement funds tax-free.

While converting traditional retirement funds to a Roth account may be an option to consider for avoiding RMDs, it is not guaranteed to be worth it for everyone. Tax implications should be carefully considered and consulted with a tax professional. A financial advisor could help determine if this could be a viable strategy for you. This free quiz can match you with up to three advisors who serve your area.

3. Work Longer

If you have some of your retirement funds in your current employer's 401(k), you might consider working longer to avoid RMDs. As long as you're still working in some capacity, you're not required to take minimum distributions from a workplace plan where you're still employed.

That exception doesn't apply to retirement accounts you had with previous employers. You won't get a pass on IRA RMDs either. But continuing to work could help to reduce the total amount of RMDs you need to take once you turn 72. And again, you can delay Social Security benefits as well.

4. Donate to Charity

One of the most popular RMD strategies for reducing taxes involves donating the amount to charity. The IRS allows you to donate up to $100,000 a year from an IRA without having to pay income tax. The money you withdraw will still count toward your RMD so you don't have to worry about a 50% tax penalty for failing to take distributions.

There are a few rules for this strategy:

You can only donate up to $100,000 to a qualified charity
Your IRA custodian must arrange for the transfer of funds to an eligible charity
You're not allowed to claim the donation as a charitable deduction your taxes

5. Consider a Qualified Longevity Annuity Contract

A qualified longevity annuity contract (QLAC) is a type of deferred annuity contract. You can use your retirement funds to purchase the annuity, then receive payments back at a later date. Payments are required beginning at age 85 and any money you put into the annuity does not factor into your RMD calculations.

However, you can only put so much money into a QLAC - up to $200,000. While you can defer taking payments until age 85, you can't avoid them indefinitely.

6. Check Your Beneficiaries

If you're at least 10 years older than your spouse and name them as the sole beneficiary of your retirement account, you can use the IRS Joint Life and Last Survivor Expectancy Table to calculate RMDs.

This strategy allows you to use your spouse's longer life expectancy to determine how much to withdraw, which can lower the amount. Of course, if your spouse is closer to your own age or you have multiple beneficiaries, you wouldn't be able to use this RMD strategy.
Where to Look for RMD Advice

Applying RMD strategies can be a simple way to reduce what you owe in taxes during retirement. You can use just one strategy or apply several in order to bring down your tax bill. While these strategies can help reduce RMDs, there's no way to avoid RMDs indefinitely (unless you have a Roth IRA).

Consulting a fiduciary financial advisor could help you determine a plan that factors RMD taxes into your overall retirement goals. Fiduciaries are obligated by law to act in your best interest as they manage your assets or money, and any potential conflicts of interest must be disclosed.

Yet knowing how to find a vetted fiduciary advisor is, for many, the most confusing task of all. Common Google searches related to the topic reveal a desperate search for direction. “Fiduciary financial advisors near me,” “best fiduciary financial advisor,” and “financial investment advisors near me” are searched for hundreds of times per day.

Finding a fiduciary shouldn't be that hard. Thankfully, now it isn't.

We moved right next door! The prior American Family building! Bigger office space!

There will be a For Sale sign in my window BUT it's only for the building, NOT the business. We have found a bigger location and hope to move by December. If the building sells before I purchase the other building we will work remotely and we will operate as normal as possible. The location we are in right now is seriously too small for three of us. If you are interested in purchasing the building please contact Patrick Reese - Real Estate of Exit Realty. I listed this with him. The building is small but quaint and a number of businesses could operate out of here. A bathroom, storage room, back door to a big lawn, open floor concept. The building is located at 1007 First Center Ave. Brodhead.

Just a heads up for my self employed fam

Looking for a part time accountant with payroll and monthly accounting experience. Start January

Voting on Personal Property Tax - see Channel 3000 video.
https://www.channel3000.com/eliminating-wisconsin-business-property-tax-gains-momentum/?minutetv=true

Eliminating Wisconsin business property tax gains momentum A bipartisan push to end a tax Wisconsin businesses pay on property that has long been targeted for elimination gained momentum Wednesday, even as Democratic Gov. Tony Evers remained silent on whether he will sign or veto the bill.

Did you receive unemployment and already filed your tax return? Well the IRS has made $10,200 of Unemployment not taxable and you will need to get that adjusted on your tax return. Read on:

How to Claim Your $10,200 Unemployment Tax Break If You Already Filed Taxes
Dawn Allcot
Tax experts often advise taxpayers to file their taxes early to expedite their refund or to be in a better position to pay their tax bill by April 15. But the strategy may have backfired this year, as early filers who paid taxes on their federal unemployment benefits missed out on an important tax break. Under the American Rescue Plan signed into law Thursday, the IRS will make the first $10,200 in unemployment benefits from 2020 tax-free. Typically, unemployment is considered taxable income at your regular tax rate, which depends on your tax bracket based on income.

MarketWatch reports that 55.7 million tax returns have already been filed as of March 5, which means many Americans will need to file amended returns that could result in larger refunds or smaller tax bills.

Tax experts have advised people to wait a bit longer to file the amended return in case the IRS finds a way to make the adjustments automatically. Robert Kerr, a Washington, D.C.-based IRS enrolled agent and tax consultant said waiting can give the IRS time to figure out how to handle these returns, MarketWatch reported. He said it also allows tax software companies to update their systems based on the tax law change. “It’s in everyone’s interest to get this sorted quickly,” he told MarketWatch.

Parents could start receiving the new $3,000 child tax credit by summer—here’s how it works

On Saturday, the Senate voted to pass the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act, which includes provisions that increase the child tax credit to $3,000 per child ages 6 to 17 and $3,600 annually for children under 6 for the tax year 2021.

And Americans with children under 18 may start receiving a portion of the new credit as early as this summer.

Under Saturday’s legislation, the IRS could start providing advances on the 2021 credit through periodic payments of $250 for school-aged children starting as early as July, depending on what the Treasury Department determines is workable. Under the proposed schedule, which could be as frequent as monthly, families could receive nearly half of their total child tax credit this year and then claim the remaining amount on their 2021 tax returns.

“This plan gives those families who are struggling the most the help and the breathing room they need to get through this moment,” President Joe Biden said in a statement Saturday.

The new enhanced benefits, which specifically cover teens who are 17 for the first time, are income-based and would start to phase out for individuals earning more than $75,000 a year or $150,000 for those married filing jointly.

From there, the credit would be reduced by $50 for every additional $1,000 of adjusted gross income earned. That means the $3,000 credit provided to parents of a child aged 6 to 17 would be phased out completely for individuals earning $95,000 and those making $170,000 and filing jointly.

Families that are ineligible for the new $3,000 credit due to earning higher adjusted gross incomes would still be able to claim the $2,000 per child credit which is available to those making up to $200,000 ($400,000 for married couples filing jointly).

The Covid-19 relief package would also make the benefit fully refundable. Under the current child tax credit, if taxpayers’ credits exceed their taxes owed, they only can get up to $1,400 as a refund. But under the new rules, they could receive the full $3,000 or $3,600 as a refund, depending on the child’s age.

Parents don’t have to be employed to get the new child tax credit. The new provisions allow households with no income to claim the credit. This is a major change, as previous rules limited the credit to those earning at least $2,500. This meant that families with very low incomes did not receive the full credit previously.

The American Rescue Plan also extends the child tax credit to those living in U.S. territories.

The House is set to vote on the Senate version of the American Rescue Plan on Tuesday before it heads to Biden’s desk for his signature this week.

This year is unlike years in the past! Taxpayers are finding out when they get their tax returns done that they owe in for 2020! Please read the following and change your withholdings as soon as possible. I am seeing a multitude of employees making a good income but their Federal Tax withholding is under 5%! That's just not enough withholding! A majority of taxpayers need to withhold between 10%-15% from their paychecks or they will more than likely owe in. Review your paystub now!
Why do I owe taxes?

If you’re like many taxpayers, getting ready to file starts with a quick check with a tax calculator. You plug in your numbers and eagerly anticipate that final number. But when that last screen doesn’t show a refund, you have to ask, “why do I owe taxes?”

We get it. Having a balance due on your taxes can be somewhat of a shock—especially if you were planning on a nice refund. Let’s look at the reasons why you would owe taxes and what your next steps should be.

Why do I owe taxes this year? – It could be withholding changes
If you received a refund last year, you generally could expect one this year—if your personal tax situation was the same. However, tax years 2018 and 2019 weren’t the same from a withholding perspective. As part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the IRS rolled out new withholding tables in February 2018. For many, the new tables meant they were withholding less, which provided for a slight bump in their paychecks. What’s more, they may have received a lower refund (or owed taxes) for the same reason.

Fast forward to 2020 and some taxpayers have gone from getting a refund to owing—but they haven’t had any changes in their tax situation. What gives? Well, it may be the timing of the withholding changes. In 2018, the new withholding tables were in effect for only 10 months; in 2019, it was the full 12 months. For some, those two months of higher withholding provided a cushion that kept them from owing for 2018. If this sounds familiar, it may help explain why you owe taxes this year. To get your withholding back on track, you should fill out a new Form W-4.

If that scenario doesn’t reflect your situation, there are other possible reasons why you owe the IRS. Read on to learn about other factors that may affect your refund results.

Why else would I owe taxes? Here’s what to look for
The first question you should ask yourself is what changed about your tax situation? It could be one big change or several changes that made an impact.

Job changes – If you or your spouse changed jobs last year, you would have completed a new Form W-4. Because completing this form can be tricky, it’s possible that slight changes in how you filled it out affected what you withheld each pay period.

Filing changes –But big life events, such as marriage, divorce or having a dependent, can affect the filing status for which you are eligible and how you are taxed. For example, changing from Head of Household to Single will affect your tax bracket and the credits and deductions you can take. If you’re married, be sure you understand the difference between the status of married filing jointly vs. married filing separately.

Older children – One of the notable changes from tax reform was the increase to the Child Tax Credit, which is now worth up to $2,000 for qualifying child. To claim the credit, however, your child must have been under age 17 at the end of the year. If they no longer qualify, you may still be able to claim the $500 credit for other dependents. The drop from a $2,000 credit to $500 one can mean a great deal to your bottom line and may answer the question of “why do I owe taxes?”

Side job – Freelance and contract workers generally need to pay quarterly taxes on their own. Since there’s no paycheck withholding in these situations, the job of keeping up with payments falls on the freelancer’s shoulders. If you have a freelance job, but haven’t been paying estimated quarterly taxes, that could shed light on why you would owe taxes to the IRS.

Credit and deduction eligibility – Other changes in your life can impact your eligibility for various types of credits and deductions. For example, changes in your income might affect whether you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Or, if you’re a college student, maybe you were previously able to claim the American Opportunity Credit, but due to an enrollment status change are no longer eligible.

Why do I owe so much in taxes? What can I do about it?
While some taxpayers prefer to have more in their paycheck vs. receiving a refund, many of us look forward to getting money back at tax time.

If you owe taxes this year and hoped for a refund instead, you need to update your withholding. It’s likely that you’ll owe again next year unless you complete a new Form W-4 and increase your withholding. The sooner in the year you submit this change to your employer, the sooner your new withholding will take effect. We can help you understand how to fill out a new Form W-4. Plus, our W-4 calculator page is a great resource.

If you owe the IRS money and can’t pay, there are options. We can help you understand how you can pay back taxes if your tax bill is too much to pay right now. NLA INC specializes in helping taxpayers in this situation and our tax pros can explain the steps to take.
This information is to be used as a guide-seek your tax professional for your own situation.

Northern Lights Accounting Service, Inc. updated their phone number.

Direct bulletin from the IRS on open filing date for tax return processing! February 12!

IR-2021-16, January 15, 2021

WASHINGTON ― The Internal Revenue Service announced that the nation's tax season will start on Friday, February 12, 2021, when the tax agency will begin accepting and processing 2020 tax year returns.

The February 12 start date for individual tax return filers allows the IRS time to do additional programming and testing of IRS systems following the December 27 tax law changes that provided a second round of Economic Impact Payments and other benefits.

This programming work is critical to ensuring IRS systems run smoothly. If filing season were opened without the correct programming in place, then there could be a delay in issuing refunds to taxpayers. These changes ensure that eligible people will receive any remaining stimulus money as a Recovery Rebate Credit when they file their 2020 tax return.

To speed refunds during the pandemic, the IRS urges taxpayers to file electronically with direct deposit as soon as they have the information they need. People can begin filing their tax returns immediately with tax software companies, including IRS Free File partners. These groups are starting to accept tax returns now, and the returns will be transmitted to the IRS starting February 12.

"Planning for the nation's filing season process is a massive undertaking, and IRS teams have been working non-stop to prepare for this as well as delivering Economic Impact Payments in record time," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. "Given the pandemic, this is one of the nation's most important filing seasons ever. This start date will ensure that people get their needed tax refunds quickly while also making sure they receive any remaining stimulus payments they are eligible for as quickly as possible."

Last year's average tax refund was more than $2,500. More than 150 million tax returns are expected to be filed this year, with the vast majority before the Thursday, April 15 deadline.

Under the PATH Act, the IRS cannot issue a refund involving the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) before mid-February. The law provides this additional time to help the IRS stop fraudulent refunds and claims from being issued, including to identity thieves.

The IRS anticipates a first week of March refund for many EITC and ACTC taxpayers if they file electronically with direct deposit and there are no issues with their tax returns. This would be the same experience for taxpayers if the filing season opened in late January. Taxpayers will need to check Where's My Refund for their personalized refund date.

Overall, the IRS anticipates nine out of 10 taxpayers will receive their refund within 21 days of when they file electronically with direct deposit if there are no issues with their tax return. The IRS urges taxpayers and tax professionals to file electronically. To avoid delays in processing, people should avoid filing paper returns wherever possible.
Tips for taxpayers to make filing easier
To speed refunds and help with their tax filing, the IRS urges people to follow these simple steps:

File electronically and use direct deposit for the quickest refunds.

Check IRS.gov for the latest tax information, including the latest on Economic Impact Payments. There is no need to call.

For those who may be eligible for stimulus payments, they should carefully review the guidelines for the Recovery Rebate Credit. Most people received Economic Impact Payments automatically, and anyone who received the maximum amount does not need to include any information about their payments when they file. However, those who didn't receive a payment or only received a partial payment may be eligible to claim the Recovery Rebate Credit when they file their 2020 tax return. Tax preparation software, including IRS Free File, will help taxpayers figure the amount.

Remember, advance stimulus payments received separately are not taxable, and they do not reduce the taxpayer's refund when they file in 2021.

Key filing season dates
There are several important dates taxpayers should keep in mind for this year's filing season:

January 15. IRS Free File opens. Taxpayers can begin filing returns through Free File partners; tax returns will be transmitted to the IRS starting Feb. 12. Tax software companies also are accepting tax filings in advance.

January 29. Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day to raise awareness of valuable tax credits available to many people – including the option to use prior-year income to qualify.

February 12. IRS begins 2021 tax season. Individual tax returns begin being accepted and processing begins.

February 22. Projected date for the IRS.gov Where's My Refund tool being updated for those claiming EITC and ACTC, also referred to as PATH Act returns.

First week of March. Tax refunds begin reaching those claiming EITC and ACTC (PATH Act returns) for those who file electronically with direct deposit and there are no issues with their tax returns.

April 15. Deadline for filing 2020 tax returns.

October 15. Deadline to file for those requesting an extension on their 2020 tax returns

Filing season opening

The filing season open follows IRS work to update its programming and test its systems to factor in the second Economic Impact Payments and other tax law changes. These changes are complex and take time to help ensure proper processing of tax returns and refunds as well as coordination with tax software industry, resulting in the February 12 start date.

The IRS must ensure systems are prepared to properly process and check tax returns to verify the proper amount of EIP's are credited on taxpayer accounts – and provide remaining funds to eligible taxpayers.

Although tax seasons frequently begin in late January, there have been five instances since 2007 when filing seasons did not start for some taxpayers until February due to tax law changes made just before the start of tax time.

2020 is DONE. Now, let's think good thoughts for 2021, starting with the coming vaccines, and then income tax refunds.

First: The Covid stimulus payments you received in 2020 (and the second check whether you received it in 2020 or 2021) will NOT decrease your tax refund.

For some, income tax season is a painful thought, particularly if they owe taxes or their finances are complex and require considerable preparation. But for most regular workers, who have one job, a family, and maybe a mortgage or college debt, income tax season usually means anticipating a tax refund. (Which actually just means you overpaid your taxes during the year, but I won't focus on that now.)

The IRS normally starts accepting e-filed income tax returns and starts processing refunds in late January. Although the 2020 tax season was significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, the IRS says there will not be a delay in this year's 2021 tax season.

The below chart shows an estimated timeline for when a taxpayer is likely to receive their refund, based on the information we have now, and using projections based on previous years- and depending on when a person files their return. If your IRS income tax refund is delayed after you've filed, ask your tax professional, or simply use the "Where's My Refund?" tool on the IRS website. Or download the IRS2Go app to check your refund status.

Most Americans who are expecting an income tax refund receive it by direct deposit in as little as 2 weeks, although it can take longer during the peak of the filing season, which starts in late March. So it's a good idea to e-file your tax return as soon as you have all of your tax documents (like your W2, 1099s, mortgage and student loan interest, and other items).

Several factors can determine when a taxpayer may receive their tax return, including:

How early they file
If the taxpayer is claiming certain credits (especially EITC and CTC)
Whether the return is e-filed or sent by mail
Whether the taxpayer has existing debts to the federal government
The Covid stimulus payments sent out earlier in the year will not affect your income tax refund. However, some taxpayers who did not receive one, may be determined to have been owed one, in which case they may be able to have it added to their 2021 refund as a credit.
Also worth noting: The IRS will delay processing by 2-3 weeks if an income tax return has the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Child Tax Credit (CTC), since these credits are often misused. The additional time allows the IRS to verify that taxpayers qualify for the credits.

So, here's the chart you were looking for. If IRS changes tax season this year, we will update this chart. And remember: This is an estimate of when to expect your refund. It is not exact, as all taxpayers have different returns and situations.
IRS Accepts E-Filed Return By:

Direct Deposit Sent (Or Paper Check Mailed 1 week later):
Jan. 25, 2021 Feb. 5, 2021 (Feb. 12, 2021)*
Feb. 2 Feb. 12 (Feb 19)*
Feb. 8 Feb. 19 (Feb 26)*
Feb. 16 Feb. 26 (Mar. 5)*
Feb. 22 Mar. 5 (Mar 12)
Mar. 1 Mar. 12 (Mar. 19)
Mar. 8 Mar. 19 (Mar. 26)
Mar. 15 Mar. 26 (Apr. 2)
Mar. 22 Apr. 2 (Apr. 9)**

* = Returns with EITC or CTC may have refunds delayed until late February to verify credits.

** = Filing during peak season can result in slightly longer waits.
IRS Accepts Return By: Direct Deposit Sent (Or Paper Check Mailed one week later)
Mar. 29, 2021 Apr. 9, 2021 (Apr. 16)**
Apr. 5 Apr. 16 (Apr. 23)**
Apr. 12 Apr. 23 (Apr. 30)**
Apr. 19 Apr. 30 (May 7)
Apr. 26 May 7 (May 14)
May 3 May 14 (May 21)
May 10 May 21 (May 28)
May 17 May 28 (June 4)
May 24 June 4 (June 11)

IMPORTANT: If you file electronically (using an online tax program or preparer), the IRS will notify you of the actual date they "accepted" your return. This is often 1-3 days from the time you actually hit the "file" or "submit" button, and it is this date that you need to use for the above chart.

Taxpayers who mail a paper version of their income tax return can expect at least a 3-4 week delay at the front-end of the process, as the return has to be manually entered into the IRS system before it can be processed.
Be Safe - Hire a Professional

Taxpayers who use a professional, such as a CPA or EA, can ask that professional for the estimated date of their tax refund, and they can be more confident that their taxes have been properly (and legally) filed.

There are also apps for Apple, Android and other devices that help track refund status.
Other Notes:
In general, the IRS says that returns with refunds are processed and payments issued within 21 days. For paper filers, this can take much longer, however. The IRS and tax professionals strongly encourage electronic filing.
What If You Can't File Your Income Taxes By April 15?

Taxpayers who don't have all of the paperwork needed in order to file their taxes can easily file an extension form, "Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return." - This will give the taxpayer until October 15 to file their tax return. No reason or excuse is needed to receive this extension, and as the title states, it is automatically granted.

However, if a person will owe taxes, it is still their obligation to pay those taxes by April 15, even if they have requested an extension to file. A professional can assist with this. Those who are due a refund generally only need to file the extension request by April 15. Any tax professional and most do-it-yourself tax programs can perform this task.

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