Quincy Reporter

State Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) is reminding Illinois taxpayers the countdown is on for the start of tax filing season.

“Illinoisans can begin filing their 2021 income tax returns at the end of this month,” Tracy posted on her website. This year’s tax filing season will begin Jan. 24, which is 17 days earlier than last year.

With the coronavirus pandemic still wreaking havoc, the Internal Revenue Season is warning there could be refund or processing delays. In hopes of avoiding such situations, IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig is advising taxpayers to avoid filing a paper return and to report all COVID-19 Economic Impact and advance Child Tax Credit payments.

The deadline for filing individual income tax returns is April 18. The IRS says it anticipates most taxpayers to receive funding within 21 days of electronically filing.

For most taxpayers, the due date to file and pay is Monday, April 18, not the typical 15th because that’s Emancipation Day. Illinois taxpayers who are among the victims of tornados will have until May 16 to file and pay, while taxpayers requesting an extension will have until Oct. 17 to file.

IRS officials anticipate seeing more than 160 million 2021 tax returns filed. By law, the IRS is prohibited from issuing a refund involving the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit before mid-February, although you can still file your return as of the Jan. 24 date.

The IRS Free File program, available to taxpayers who made $73,000 or less in 2021, will open on Jan. 14.

According to CBS News, three out of every four of all Americans receive an annual tax refund from the IRS, which often equates to a family's biggest check of the year.