REASONS TO FILE YOUR 2020 TAX RETURN EARLY

The IRS opened the 2020 individual income tax return filing season on February 12 (this is later than in past years because of a new law that was enacted late in December). Even if you typically do not file until much closer to the April 15 deadline (or you file for an extension) consider filing earlier this year. You can potentially protect yourself from tax identity theft and there may be other benefits as well.

In a tax identity theft scheme, a thief uses another individual’s personal information to file a fraudulent tax return early in the filing season and claim a bogus refund. The real taxpayer discovers the fraud when he or she files a return and is told by the IRS that the return is being rejected because a return with the same Social Security number has already been filed for the tax year. While the taxpayer should ultimately be able to prove that his or her return is the legitimate one, tax identity theft can be a hassle to straighten out and significantly delay a refund. Filing early may be your best defense. If you file first, it will be the tax return filed by a potential thief that will be rejected, not yours.

In addition to protecting yourself from tax identity theft another benefit of early filing is if you are getting a refund, you will receive it faster. The IRS expects most refunds to be issued within 21 days of filing. The time is typically shorter if you file electronically and receive a refund by direct deposit. Direct deposit also avoids the possibility that a refund check could be lost, stolen, returned to the IRS as undeliverable or caught in mail delays.

If you have not received an Economic Impact Payment (EIP), or you did not receive the full amount due, filing early will help you to receive the amount sooner. EIPs have been paid by the federal government to eligible individuals to help mitigate the financial effects of COVID-19. Amounts due that were not sent to eligible taxpayers can be claimed on your 2020 return.

We can help you ensure you file an accurate return that takes advantage of all of the breaks available to you. For more information or if you have questions, please contact us.