January 29 has been set as the opening date for the 2024 tax season. The Internal Revenue Service this week said that is when it will be accepting and processing 2023 tax returns.
This year, the deadline for most taxpayers in April 15 with the April 17 for those in Maine and Massachusetts because of the Patriot's Day and Emancipation Day holidays
IRS Free File will be available starting January 12 while the IRS Direct File pilot will be rolled out in phases as final testing is completed. Direct File is expected to be widely available in mid-March to eligible taxpayers in participating states.
Although the IRS will not accept returns until January 29, most software companies will accept them and hold them until the IRS begins processing
Bob Scott has provided information to the tax and accounting community since 1991, first as technology editor of Accounting Today, and from 1997 through 2009 as editor of its sister publication, Accounting Technology. He is known throughout the industry for his depth of knowledge and for his high journalistic standards. Scott has made frequent appearances as a speaker, moderator and panelist and events serving tax and accounting professionals. He has a strong background in computer journalism as an editor with two former trade publications, Computer+Software News and MIS Week and spent several years with weekly and daily newspapers in Morris County New Jersey prior to that. A graduate of Indiana University with a degree in journalism, Bob is a native of Madison, Ind
