Are you concerned about when to file your tax return at the right time? I got you! Tax season can be overwhelming with form submission dates, tracking your returns, and handling common tax problems. Oh, man! It’s a lot to cope with. But hey! We have a complete guide with accurate dates on when to file your tax returns, how to understand tax terminologies, how to calculate your refunds, and a lot more.
Key Tax Return Dates for 2025
Tracking Your Tax Return
Tracking your tax return status can be satisfying. These can inform you where your application stands and how much time it will take to get your refund. Let’s see the method to check your tax return’s current status:
How to Use a Tax Return Tracker:
Tax return trackers are tools provided by tax authorities to help you monitor your application status. In New York City, the IRS offers a “Where’s My Refund” tool to track your application. To use this tool, you need some basic tax data.
Here is a step-by-step process for tax fund tracking:
- Go to the Where My Refund page.
- Click on “Check Your Refund”. Typically, a blue button is located in the middle of the page.
- The next page will be a form asking you for some details, including your SSN (Social Security Number), tax year, filing status, and refund amount.
- Fill out the information, and you will immediately get results.
If there are no results, don’t stress and check again tomorrow. IRS updates the record overnight. Any missing details will be updated in a day.
Understanding Your Tax Return Status:
As a result of your application, there are expected four statuses:
Received:
Your application has been submitted and will be reviewed by tax authorities. The process can take time as your application is in its initial state.
In-Progress:
The application is being processed by tax authorities. This stage can vary in duration depending on your tax return complexity and the workload of the tax agency.
Approved:
The application has been accepted by the tax agency, and you will soon receive your refunds if applicable.
Refund Sent:
The tax authority has processed your refunds, and they have been sent to you using your selected method.
Calculating Your Tax Refund
Calculating your tax refund is essential to anticipate your financial outcomes. It can help you ensure your tax returns are accurate. Furthermore, the IRS asks you about the expected refund amount when checking the status of your tax application. Your tax refund is essentially the difference between the amount of tax you owe and the amount you’ve already paid throughout the year.
Below, we will see how tax return refunds are calculated by the IRS:
- Calculate Your Total Tax Liability: Check your total tax liability by calculating the tax you owe based on your taxable income and tax rates.
- Apply for Deductions and Credits: NYC offers multiple credits and deductions for residents. So, subtract any deduction you qualify for. You can count on itemized deductions, home mortgage and STAR program deductions, simply minus them from your gross income.
Suppose your total tax payments and withholdings exceed your tax liability. You’ll receive a refund for the overpaid amount and vice versa.
IRS Tax Return Processing Time
IRS tax return processing time is normally 21 days for electronic filing and 6 to 8 weeks for paper filing. However, the processing time can vary depending on multiple factors, both from the IRS and user end. Here are a few major factors that can delay your application.
Heavy Work Load in Tax Season:
Tax return schedule from January to April come with heavy work load for IRS. Due to tons of application, processing time can be long. But usually it still fall in 8 weeks.
Filing Methods:
Typically, there are two filing methods for tax returns.
- E-filling
- Manual paper filing
E-filing means your tax return will be processed within 3 weeks. Furthermore, you get instant word from the IRS that your request has been received. Most of the IRS systems are automated. Data processing will be done automatically, saving time for tax agencies as well as yours.
Furthermore, it reduces the risk of errors. Meanwhile, paper processing can be the culprit for delay due to manual data entry and time requirements.
Errors and Missing Details:
If your tax form is missing necessary details it can flag your data in IRS, causing delays. Commonly mistakes are unsigned forms, wrong SSN (social security number) and name changes.
Law Updates:
Law updates can also cause delay as IRS system need to be updated accordingly. They might need more documents than your filed ones. So, it is suggest to file your tax return with the help of a tax preparer.
Fraud Prevention Measures:
IRS has a strong system for fraud prevention. Sometimes your application gets flagged to be fraudulent, requiring more detailed inspection. In these cases, the tax agency will contact you and ask for more details as necessary.
Tax Complexity:
Simple tax return typically processed earlier. However complex cases with multiple interest, business owner ships and further income streams take time. If you have applied for tax return with multiple credit and deduction forms it will also cause delay.
FAQs About Tax Returns
1- When is my tax return due?
- For the yearly filler, whose year ends on December 31, the due date is April 15 of next year. However, this date can be extended at your request, depending on individual circumstances.
2- How Is My Tax Return Calculated?
- The tax return is calculated with your year’s gross income subtracted by the deductions and credits you qualify for and the tax you already paid. If you paid more than your taxable income, you are eligible for a refund, or else you pay the tax you owe.
3- How much tax return will I get?
- Your tax return depends on your gross taxable income subtracted by deductions and credits you qualify for. In short, there is no specific amount on how much tax return you will get. However, you can calculate this amount and request a refund from the IRS.
4- Where is my amended tax return?
- You can check your amended tax return status by going to the “Where’s My Amended Return” page on the IRS official website. It will ask you for your social security number, birth date, and zip code. Provide this information, and the IRS will give you further details about your amended tax returns.
5- How does the IRS determine tax returns?
- The IRS takes tax documents and related data from you, cross-checks them for accuracy with third-party sources, and determines your tax returns after the process.
6- Why is my tax return taking so long?
- It can be due to multiple factors, such as needing more information, workload at a tax agency, or the verification of your income statistics.
Wrap Up:
Tax season always comes with challenges. So, keeping track of your taxes, knowing the filing dates, and calculating your taxes can give you peace of mind. Remember the key dates, and don’t worry if your refund gets delayed. However, if the delay is taking more time than usual, you can contact the IRS directly. Moreover, hire professional accounting and tax preparation services if you want to spend less time on document preparation, worrying about the process, and hitting your head!
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