THE 2022 TAX FILING SEASON: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Monday, January 24, 2022, was the official start to this year’s tax season. By now, everyone should have received their information they need to file a complete and accurate return.

The start date for individual tax return filers is determined by how much time the IRS needs to perform programming and testing critical to ensuring IRS systems run smoothly. Updated programming helps ensure that eligible people can claim the proper amount of the Child Tax Credit. The IRS will need to compare 2021 advance credits and claim any remaining stimulus money as a Recovery Rebate Credit when they file their 2021 tax return.

Some returns, filed electronically or on paper, may need manual review. This causes delays processing if IRS systems detect a possible error or missing information. Some of these situations require the IRS to correspond with taxpayers, but some do not. This work does require special handling by an IRS employee, so, in these instances, it may take the IRS more than the normal 21 days to issue any related refund. In those cases where the IRS is able to correct the return without corresponding, the IRS will send an explanation to the taxpayer.

By law, the IRS cannot issue a refund involving the Earned Income Credit or Child Tax Credit before mid-February. However, eligible people may file their returns beginning on January 24. The law provides this additional time to help the IRS stop fraudulent refunds from being issued.

APRIL 18 is the TAX FILING DEADLINE FOR MOST TAXPAYERS

The filing deadline for most taxpayers this tax season for 2021 tax returns or an extension to file and pay any tax owed is Monday, April 18, 2022.

KEY ITEMS TO KNOW BEFORE FILING 2021 TAX RETURNS

Before filing a tax return, taxpayers should know three key items:

Item 1

Changes to the charitable contribution deduction. Taxpayers who don’t itemize deductions may qualify to take a deduction of up to $600 for married taxpayers filing joint returns and up to $300 for all other filers for cash contributions made in 2021 to qualifying organizations. 

Item 2

Check on advance child tax credit payments. Families who received advance payments will need to compare the advance child tax credit payments they received in 2021 with the amount of the child tax credit that they can properly claim on their 2021 tax return.

• Taxpayers who received less than the amount for which they’re eligible will claim a credit for the remaining amount of child tax credit on their 2021 tax return.
• Eligible families who did not get monthly advance payments in 2021 can still get a lump-sum payment by claiming the child tax credit when they file a 2021 federal income tax return next year. This includes families who don’t normally need to file a return.

In January 2022, the IRS began sending Letter 6419 (see What is IRS Letter 6419?, below) with the total amount of advance child tax credit payments taxpayers received in 2021. People should keep this and other IRS letters about advance child tax credit payments with their tax records. Individuals can also create or log in to IRS.gov Online Account to securely access their child tax credit payment amounts. In addition, we highly recommend all taxpayers setting up an account on IRS.gov.

Item 3

Economic impact payments and claiming the recovery rebate credit. Individuals who didn’t qualify for the third economic impact payment or did not receive the full amount may be eligible for the recovery rebate credit based on their 2021 tax information. They’ll need to file a 2021 tax return, even if they don’t usually file, to claim the credit.

Individuals will need to let their CPA know how much of the stimulus payment they received to claim the credit. If they did not receive anything, the CPA will need to know that as well.

In early 2022, the IRS sent Letter 6475, Your Third Economic Impact Payment. This letter contains the total amount of the third economic impact payment and any plus-up payments received. People should keep this and other IRS letters about their stimulus payments with other tax records. Individuals can also create or log in to IRS.gov Online Account to securely access their economic impact payment amounts.

We hope to see you this tax season!

Pharrcpa.com