JRS Posted October 22, 2013 Report Posted October 22, 2013 WASHINGTON–The Internal Revenue Service today announced a delay of approximately one to two weeks to the start of the 2014 filing season to allow adequate time to program and test tax processing systems following the 16-day federal government closure. Quote
mcb39 Posted October 22, 2013 Report Posted October 22, 2013 Does this come as a surprise to anybody? Deja Vue! Quote
GeneInAlabama Posted October 22, 2013 Report Posted October 22, 2013 It surprised me. I expected a longer delay. 1 Quote
kcjenkins Posted October 22, 2013 Report Posted October 22, 2013 They have not yet said HOW long. Until they set a specif date it's still a guessing game. That will not be until DECEMBER. Here is the full notice: 2014 Tax Season to Start Later Following Government Closure; IRS Sees Heavy Demand As Operations Resume IR-2013-82, Oct. 22, 2013 WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today announced a delay of approximately one to two weeks to the start of the 2014 filing season to allow adequate time to program and test tax processing systems following the 16-day federal government closure. The IRS is exploring options to shorten the expected delay and will announce a final decision on the start of the 2014 filing season in December, Acting IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said. The original start date of the 2014 filing season was Jan. 21, and with a one- to two-week delay, the IRS would start accepting and processing 2013 individual tax returns no earlier than Jan. 28 and no later than Feb. 4. The government closure came during the peak period for preparing IRS systems for the 2014 filing season. Programming, testing and deployment of more than 50 IRS systems is needed to handle processing of nearly 150 million tax returns. Updating these core systems is a complex, year-round process with the majority of the work beginning in the fall of each year. About 90 percent of IRS operations were closed during the shutdown, with some major workstreams closed entirely during this period, putting the IRS nearly three weeks behind its tight timetable for being ready to start the 2014 filing season. There are additional training, programming and testing demands on IRS systems this year in order to provide additional refund fraud and identity theft detection and prevention. “Readying our systems to handle the tax season is an intricate, detailed process, and we must take the time to get it right,” Werfel said. “The adjustment to the start of the filing season provides us the necessary time to program, test and validate our systems so that we can provide a smooth filing and refund process for the nation’s taxpayers. We want the public and tax professionals to know about the delay well in advance so they can prepare for a later start of the filing season.” The IRS will not process paper tax returns before the start date, which will be announced in December. There is no advantage to filing on paper before the opening date, and taxpayers will receive their tax refunds much faster by using e-file with direct deposit. The April 15 tax deadline is set by statute and will remain in place. However, the IRS reminds taxpayers that anyone can request an automatic six-month extension to file their tax return. The request is easily done with Form 4868, which can be filed electronically or on paper. IRS processes, applications and databases must be updated annually to reflect tax law updates, business process changes, and programming updates in time for the start of the filing season. The IRS continues resuming and assessing operations following the 16-day closure. The IRS is seeing heavy demand on its toll-free telephone lines, walk-in sites and other services from taxpayers and tax practitioners. During the closure, the IRS received 400,000 pieces of correspondence, on top of the 1 million items already being processed before the shutdown. The IRS encourages taxpayers to wait to call or visit if their issue is not urgent, and to continue to use automated applications on IRS.gov whenever possible. “In the days ahead, we will continue assessing the impact of the shutdown on IRS operations, and we will do everything we can to work through the backlog and pent-up demand,” Werfel said. “We greatly appreciate the patience of taxpayers and the tax professional community during this period. Quote
JohnH Posted October 22, 2013 Report Posted October 22, 2013 I think I'm going to set my cutoff date for filing extensions as Feb 4, 2014. I've never tried to file an extension before IRS was accepting returns, so this might be a new and exciting experience. Quote
Guest Taxed Posted October 22, 2013 Report Posted October 22, 2013 I am in favor of a delay to make sure that when it starts it runs without a glitch! So Mr. Werfel, please take your time to do the testing. Quote
JohnH Posted October 22, 2013 Report Posted October 22, 2013 Yes, let's not have.... Oh, never mind... Sorry, wrong forum. Quote
MsTabbyKats Posted October 22, 2013 Report Posted October 22, 2013 I am in favor of a delay to make sure that when it starts it runs without a glitch! So Mr. Werfel, please take your time to do the testing. Not to mention that we will have more time to experiment with our programs....and make sure they run without a glitch. Quote
GeneInAlabama Posted October 22, 2013 Report Posted October 22, 2013 The delay may also delay the IRS in approving the programs. The software companies may be later in getting the programs out. Quote
Jack from Ohio Posted October 22, 2013 Report Posted October 22, 2013 I think I'm going to set my cutoff date for filing extensions as Feb 4, 2014. I've never tried to file an extension before IRS was accepting returns, so this might be a new and exciting experience. Usually, the 4868 is not available in the software or to be e-filed for a few weeks after start of e-file season. Quote
kcjenkins Posted October 22, 2013 Report Posted October 22, 2013 The delay may also delay the IRS in approving the programs. The software companies may be later in getting the programs out. Yes, I expect it will. Quote
jshtax Posted October 23, 2013 Report Posted October 23, 2013 They need to delay filing deadline as well. Quote
jshtax Posted October 23, 2013 Report Posted October 23, 2013 I am already stressing about the long hours late in the season. Guess I can still get some rounds of golf in January since returns wont be completed. Quote
JohnH Posted October 23, 2013 Report Posted October 23, 2013 Usually, the 4868 is not available in the software or to be e-filed for a few weeks after start of e-file season. There's always the option to donwload a fillable pfd from the IRS web site. These forms are sometimes available before software vendors get them approved. Quote
easytax Posted October 23, 2013 Report Posted October 23, 2013 They need to delay filing deadline as well. ********* PART to answer some of your question ************The April 15 tax deadline is set by statute and will remain in place.Doesn't matter WHEN we start, they still want their deadline ----- Washington NEEDS the money --- Quote
Guest Taxed Posted October 23, 2013 Report Posted October 23, 2013 I am already stressing about the long hours late in the season. Guess I can still get some rounds of golf in January since returns wont be completed. If your software cooperates this year then it should not be that much additional stress. This is not our first rodeo! I agree you can have some additional play time in January. Quote
joanmcq Posted October 23, 2013 Report Posted October 23, 2013 And let's hope there are no more late changes to the tax code or filing season won't start until April, just in time to send out extensions. 2 Quote
Elrod Posted October 23, 2013 Report Posted October 23, 2013 one to two weeks.......... Read here. http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroom/2014-Tax-Season-to-Start-Later-Following-Government-Closure;-IRS-Sees-Heavy-Demand-As-Operations-Resume Quote
MsTabbyKats Posted October 23, 2013 Report Posted October 23, 2013 I wonder if they're going to extend businesses issuing W-2s and 1099-Miscs etc....to a later day also. Oh...won't that be fun! Quote
Guest Taxed Posted October 23, 2013 Report Posted October 23, 2013 I don't think the shut down impacted that part of it. Employers get the W2 preparation process started after the last payroll for the year closes. I am not taking any new payroll clients, but for the few I still got left that is my New Year's belated greeting card to them to get me the ledgers pronto. Quote
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