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IRS delays start of 2020 tax filing season to Feb. 12

The deadline for filing 2020 tax returns is still April 15

FILE - This April 13, 2014, file photo shows the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) headquarters building in Washington. The Treasury Department and the IRS are urging taxpayers who want to get their economic impact payments directly deposited to their bank accounts to enter their information online by Wednesday, May 11, 2020. The IRS said that people should use the Get My Payment tool on the IRS website by noon on Wednesday to provide their direct deposit information. (AP Photo/J. David Ake, File) (J. David Ake, Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Americans have more time to prepare for tax filing season.

The IRS announced Friday that the start of the 2020 tax filing season will be delayed to Feb. 12 compared to the usual opening in late January.

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This change comes as the IRS needs more time to prepare after the COVID-19 relief act took place in December.

“Given the pandemic, this is one of the nation’s most important filing seasons ever,“ the agency said in its announcement. “These changes ensure that eligible people will receive any remaining stimulus money as a recovery rebate credit when they file their return.”

It’s recommended that taxpayers submit their returns electronically and use direct deposit as they’re ready this season.

The IRS anticipates that EITC and ACTC taxpayers who file electronically with direct deposits and have no issues with their tax returns will receive a refund the first week of March.

The deadline for filing 2020 tax returns is still April 15.