IRS: Thanks to 'Fiscal Cliff,' No Tax Returns Processed in January

Today - Wednesday, Jan. 30 - is the first day you can file your annual tax return.

The Internal Revenue Service has revised its opening date for tax season — pushing it back eight days from previous years. 

The tax filing deadline this year is Monday, April 15, 2013.

The IRS will begin accepting tax returns beginning today, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013. Most taxpayers should be able to file today, though some revised forms may not be immediately available.

You can blame the delay on the federal "fiscal cliff" crisis and the new tax bill Congress passed just after Dec. 31. You can find more information in this Forbes article.

Electronic filing season was originally set to start on Jan. 22 this year.

As a result of the delay, nobody will get a refund in January, an H&R Block official told Financial Advisor.

The IRS will not process paper tax returns before the anticipated Jan. 30 opening date. There is no advantage to filing on paper before the opening date, and taxpayers will receive their tax refunds much faster by using e-file with direct deposit, writes Patch IRS Blogger David Stewart.

There are several forms affected by the late legislation that require more extensive programming and testing of IRS systems. The IRS hopes to begin accepting tax returns including these tax forms between late February and into March; a specific date will be announced in the near future.

The key forms that require more extensive programming changes include Form 5695 (Residential Energy Credits), Form 4562 (Depreciation and Amortization) and Form 3800 (General Business Credit). A full listing of the forms that won’t be accepted until later is available on IRS.gov.

Do you like to do your taxes in person? Here are some places you can go to get your taxes done in the area. If we missed a good local option, please add it in the comments:

Taxes Hispano, 2881 El Camino Real, Redwood City

Able Tax, 801 Woodside Road, Redwood City

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, 1060 El Camino Real, Redwood City

Bartels Tax Service, 516 Keelson Cir., Redwood City

Sanchez Tax Service, 844 Woodside Road, Redwood City

Golden State Income Tax & Bookkeeping, 626 Jefferson Ave., Redwood City

, 2881 El Camino Real, Redwood City

Account^Ability, 855 Veterans Blvd., Redwood City

James Nahmens, 558 Nimitz Ave., Redwood City

H&R Block, 777 Woodside Road, Redwood City

Patrick Edens, 234 Marshall St.

Peter B. Diaz, 1811 Kentfield Ave., Redwood City

Colibri Financial Services, 615 Woodside Road, Redwood City

Robert A. Memole, 2317 Broadway St, Redwood City

, 643 Bair Island Road, Redwood City

Bruce D. Lacina, 511 Oak Ridge Dr., Redwood City

, 1155 Broadway St., Redwood City

Pon & Associates, 240 Twin Dolphin Dr., Redwood City

, 333 Twin Dolphin Dr., Redwood City

Monarcas and Associates, 829 Jefferson Ave, Redwood City

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