Get ready for a wild tax season.

Every year more than 200 million Americans sign and send income-tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service. But the 2022 filing season will be like no other: Millions of taxpayers still haven’t had returns they filed in 2021 processed, while tens of millions of this year’s filers will have to grapple with reporting requirements for stimulus payments or expanded child tax credits.

THE 2022 WSJ TAX GUIDE
Follow this link to download the latest edition of the Journal’s overview of the world of taxes.

In a historic move, Congress had the IRS prepay a portion of the expanded credits in monthly installments during 2021. While this change put cash in the pockets of many families, it will shrink refunds many filers are anticipating, as well.


These unique challenges will complicate a process that is already profoundly confusing to millions who have to comply with it—for good reason. Now over 100 years old, the tax code is encrusted with layers of interacting provisions that shift slightly when some parts of it but not others are adjusted for inflation annually.

Congress also frequently changes both tax rates and specific provisions. For example, the tax credit for an 8-year-old child was $1,000 for 2017, $2,000 for 2018-20, and $3,000 for 2021. It will drop to $2,000 for 2022 and $1,000 after 2025, unless lawmakers act again.

To help, The Wall Street Journal has prepared the fifth edition of the WSJ Tax Guide, which subscribers can download free by following this link. Published annually since 2018, the Guide by WSJ tax reporters Laura Saunders and Richard Rubin provides an overview of key income-tax provisions for individuals and tracks relevant changes for each year. It also includes a look ahead to changes Congress is considering.


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In addition, the Guide covers perennial issues such as income-tax rates and brackets, tax issues for homeowners and state- and local-tax deductions. It also has special sections for first-time filers as well as widows and widowers.

The U.S. income tax now affects nearly every facet and phase of Americans’ lives, it seems: working and investing; having children and saving for college and retirement; paying for medical care; buying and selling homes; estate planning. With the WSJ Tax Guide, readers can learn about the provisions that matter to them.

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link: https://www.wsj.com/articles/t...s-11645180201?page=1

E-File your taxes, and do it early.

Waiting until April 15th to mail in a manual tax return virtually guarantees that it will get stuck in the backlog for many months.


Whereas I e-file my taxes in late January/early February, basically as soon as I have all the necessary documents. My returns are accepted within a day, and I've never waited more than 2ish weeks to get my (small) refund. Including last year and this year.

Did my TurboTax and already got the refund.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
E-File your taxes, and do it early.

Waiting until April 15th to mail in a manual tax return virtually guarantees that it will get stuck in the backlog.


Whereas I e-file my taxes in late January/early February (basically as soon as I have all the necessary documents), my returns are accepted within a day, and I've never waited more than 3 weeks for a refund.

This ^^^^^

This year we ended-up owing. (First time since we've been married, I believe.) E-filed. As soon as my on-line IRS account shows they've processed our return and shows what we owe, I'll e-pay, as well.

No delays. Nothing to go awry in snail-mail. Quick, easy, painless.

E-filed and five days later refund was in our account.
Same as last year, but refund was less?

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
Waiting until April 15th to mail in a manual tax return virtually guarantees that it will get stuck in the backlog for many months.

That is precisely what I do every year and I'll do this year too.

OTOH, I don't pay extra so I don't get a refund, primarily because I don't believe in making zero interest loans to our government.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:
That is precisely what I do every year and I'll do this year too.

OTOH, I don't pay extra so I don't get a refund, primarily because I don't believe in making zero interest loans to our government.

Yep, I do the same; no point letting govt get my money earlier than needed.