By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Internal Revenue Service recently announced that they will start accepting returns for the 2020 tax year next month.
"This year, we had to push the date back to February 12," said spokesperson Michael Devine. "That's the date we're going to start processing tax returns. The law was passed in December on the 27th that changed how we do some things and it required additional programming and testing of our system. In order to make sure that we get it right on our end, we pushed the date back to give our folks more time. A lot of these changes had to do with the Recovery Rebate Credit that you'll file on your 2020 return to claim it if you didn't get the economic impact payment, but you can still file if you've got all your documents."
However, there is no hurry to file this year. The deadline is normal, but the processing window is smaller.
"We aren't even going to start processing returns until February 12," Devine said. "Make sure you have all of the documents. Do that return one time. If you do think you made a mistake and you have to file an amended return, wait until your first tax return is processed. If you file that amended return, you're going to have two 1040s in the system at the same time. It's going to look to our system like tax fraud, both of them are going to bounce out of the system and any refund that you were expecting is going to be delayed until we work it out."
Also, as has been the case in previous years, those with certain tax credits they are eligible for will have their returns delayed a little while.
"That includes the Earned Income Tax Credit," Devine said. "Last year, about 174,000 in Kansas got over $400 million in benefits. By law, those refunds, the entire refund has to be held until February 15. If you get everything and you file before we start processing returns, as soon as those come through, it will probably be the 15th and then that money will go out."
If you have questions about your return, or how to file for free, go to irs.gov.
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