IRS Won't Begin Processing Tax Returns Until January 31st
By Lynne Adkins
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Want to file your federal tax return right away so you can get a quick turnaround on that refund check?
Sorry, the IRS says they're not ready to start processing returns, no matter how soon you send it in.
The Internal Revenue Service won't begin processing tax returns this year until January 31st because the government shutdown in October delayed the process of updating tax systems, according to Jennifer Jenkins, an IRS spokeswoman for Pennsylvania.
"In recent years the date has been in January -- mid to late January -- so this is not that unusual," she tells KYW Newsradio. "I think folks are used to waiting until they get their W-2s and 1099s -- these are documents you need to have in hand to file a complete and accurate return."
The IRS had wanted to begin processing returns on January 21st.
The filing deadline remains April 15th.