Filing 2025 Taxes? Read This IRS Tax Prep Advice First
Steps to take now, mistakes to avoid, and when to seek professional help
Get your financial records in order and fire up your computer: It’s tax season. This year, the IRS began accepting returns on January 26, and it expects to receive more than 161 million individual income tax returns this season. While most people don’t look forward to filing their taxes, they do look forward to receiving refunds. Last year's average tax refund was approximately $3,000.
The IRS encourages people to file their tax returns electronically to minimize errors and to receive faster refunds. Gathering all the needed information to file an accurate return will also help you avoid delays in filing, processing, and receiving any refund you’re owed.
AAA’s The Extra Mile (TEM) sat down with John Fuld of the IRS to find out what taxpayers need to know before filing their taxes this year, including deadlines, when to use and how to choose a tax professional, and how to avoid common filing errors. Here’s what he shared.
When is the deadline to file your tax year 2025 personal federal income taxes?
The filing deadline to submit 2025 tax returns or an extension to file and pay tax owed is Wednesday, April 15, 2026. If a taxpayer resides in a federally declared disaster area, they may have additional time to file.
What is the fastest way to file your taxes?
Fast is good for sure, but fast and accurate is very important.
IRS Free File marks its 24th filing season this year and is one of many free options available to taxpayers for filing their taxes either online or in person. IRS Free File is offered via a public–private partnership between the IRS and Free File Inc., formerly the Free File Alliance. Through this partnership, leading tax software providers make their online products available. All products are available in English, and there is one product offered in Spanish.
The majority of taxpayers qualify to use the IRS Free File program, which provides free tax preparation software to taxpayers whose adjusted gross income was $89,000 or less in 2025.
Filing your tax return is also free, quick, and easy if you do it yourself. You can usually complete a simple IRS return in 30 minutes or less. Gathering all the documents you need—Form W-2s, 1099s, statements on interest and investment income, etc.—may sometimes take longer than actually entering the information into the software and e-filing the return. If you have all your documents ready, the process can be done quickly.
Every year, a large percentage of people who e-file choose to file from a home computer. During 2025, approximately half of all the e-file returns the IRS received were prepared on a home computer.
Tax documents normally start arriving in people’s mailboxes in late January. What documents should filers locate before preparing their taxes?
For most people, a Form W-2, Wage Tax Statement, from your employer is the key to getting started. If you had side jobs or other income, you may also receive a Form 1099 from whoever paid you during 2025. Banks also send 1099s showing interest, and brokers send 1099s showing dividends. Don’t forget those bank and investment income statements; you’ll need those to calculate your income.
What should people do if they haven’t received a Form W-2 from their employer?
Employers have until January 31 to issue W-2s to their employees. After that time, you should check with your employer as to when you can expect a W-2. But you still have to file on time, even if you don’t get your Form W-2. You should be able to figure out your income and withholding from your wage and earning statement from your employer’s HR department. You can use Form 4852, Substitute for Form W-2 for filing your return if you don’t receive a W-2 in a timely manner.
Are there any special reminders for taxpayers doing their own taxes?
A few reminders for this year’s filing are that the standard deduction amount increased for 2025. The amount for those filing Single or Married Filing Separately is $15,750, Married Filing Jointly or Qualifying Surviving Spouse is $31,500, and Head of Household is $23,625.
Additionally, the Child Tax Credit amount increased. The maximum Additional Child Tax Credit amount has increased to $2,200 for each qualifying child.
More of what’s new can be found at IRS.gov under the “What’s New” section of IRS Publication 17. Taxpayers can also reach the website “find forms and instructions,” which leads to various forms, instructions, and publications you can reference and download. Various free ways to file federal taxes can be found at File your own taxes for free | Internal Revenue Service.
Many Americans opt to use a tax preparer to help them file a return. What advice do you have for choosing a tax professional?
Most tax return preparers provide honest, high-quality service. However, some may cause harm through fraud, identity theft, and other scams. Therefore, it’s important for taxpayers to understand who they’re choosing and what important questions to ask when hiring an individual or firm to prepare their tax return.
You should use the same care in selecting a tax professional as you do in selecting a doctor or attorney. You are going to be sharing confidential information with your tax person, so get referrals and do some research.
The IRS reminds taxpayers that they are ultimately responsible for all the information on their income tax return, regardless of who prepares the return. That is why choosing a tax professional carefully is so important.
When choosing a tax professional, the IRS urges taxpayers to visit IRS.gov. The Choosing a Tax Professional resource on IRS.gov has information about tax return preparer credentials and qualifications. The IRS Directory of Federal Tax Return Preparers with Credentials and Select Qualifications can help identify many preparers by type of credential or qualification.
Be wary of a tax preparer who wants to take a percentage of your refund as their fee. Also, make sure that the tax preparer signs the return and includes a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). If the preparer is unwilling to sign the return, include a PTIN, and e-file the return, look for another preparer.
Never sign a blank tax return when someone tells you they will just fill in the numbers later. In the end, it is your signature on the tax return, so you’re responsible for it. Be safe with your personal information, and be sure to ask questions until you feel comfortable with the person who will be preparing your taxes.
For those filing their taxes on their own, what are some common errors to avoid?
The biggest mistake a taxpayer could make is not using IRS E-file because e-file is the fastest and most accurate way to do your taxes.
With e-file, math mistakes and mistakes calculating certain credits or deductions are caught by your computer software, but it is still a good idea to double-check the math and to read instructions and qualifications carefully. Bottom line, if we catch an error on your return, it may slow down the processing, and you may have to wait longer to get any refund money. Errors may even lead to a smaller refund or additional tax.
Some early birds may have already filed their taxes. How can they check the status of their refund, and how long does it take for a refund to be processed?
For taxpayers who e-file and choose direct deposit, the IRS generally issues refunds in less than 21 days. Use IRS.gov/refunds for more information.
If I have a question about filing my taxes, what is the best way to reach the IRS?
A big way taxpayers can avoid errors is to use IRS.gov. It’s the quickest and easiest option for help.
Taxpayers who want to be able to access information about their personal taxes from the IRS should go to IRS.gov and create an Online Account, which securely provides tax account information on IRS.gov and helps provide important filing information.
The IRS hopes to continue to improve phone service this year for taxpayers and tax professionals. However, it’s important to note that call volumes remain at historically high levels. The IRS urges people to visit IRS.gov for the information they need. From there, taxpayers can quickly access the variety of free resources available at any time, day or night.
The One, Big, Beautiful Bill
Taxpayers may be able to take advantage of new deductions that could reduce taxable income and increase refunds due to the One, Big, Beautiful Bill (OBBB), passed by Congress in July 2025. Provisions from the new law can have a significant effect on federal taxes, credits, and deductions.
The legislation includes four prominent provisions for individuals:
- the deduction for seniors
- no tax on tips
- no tax on overtime
- no tax on car loan interest
Taxpayers claiming these deductions should use Schedule 1-A and see the related instructions.
Taxpayers may have questions about taking advantage of OBBB tax provisions to lower their tax bills. One, Big, Beautiful Bill Provisions on IRS.gov provides information on the new tax law provisions and others, plus eligibility and guidance. Taxpayers can also use IRS.gov tools to learn more and get answers on how these changes could impact tax return filing.