IRS opens Free File, key forms will be ready, but no news on start dateBy: NATP Research
January 13, 2021

The IRS has not yet announced a start date for the 2021 filing season, however, IRS Free File will open mid-January when participating providers begin accepting returns. The IRS assures key forms needed to file returns will also be ready mid-January.

IRS Free File is a public-private partnership between the IRS and many tax preparation and filing software industry leaders who provide their brand-name products for free. Taxpayers are provided two ways to prepare and file their federal income tax online for free. If income is $72,000 and below, free federal tax filing on an IRS partner site is available; income above $72,000 are eligible for free electronic self-filed forms.

This tool is only available for current-year returns. You cannot process a prior year return using IRS Free File. Taxpayers looking to file past returns should use a registered tax preparer in their area.

To use Free File, you need:

  • A copy of last year’s tax return to access your adjusted gross income (AGI)
  • Valid Social Security numbers for yourself, spouse and any dependents, if applicable

Income and receipts

  • Social Security benefits
  • Unemployment compensation
  • All receipts pertaining to your small business, if applicable
  • Income receipts from rental, real estate, royalties, partnerships, S corporation, trusts

Other income

  • W-2s showing your annual wages from all of your employers
  • Form 1099-INT showing interest paid to you throughout the year
  • Form 1099-G showing any refund, credit or offset of state and local taxes
  • Forms 1099-DIV and 1099-R showing dividends and distributions from retirement and other plans paid to you during the year

ACA filers

  • Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement
  • Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit

Identity will be verified using 2019 AGI or a 2019 personal identification number (PIN). If you don’t have your AGI or PIN, taxpayers can use the IRS Get Transcript self-help tools to get a tax return transcript showing your AGI. There are two options:

  • Online: Select the Tax Return Transcript and use only the “Adjusted Gross Income” line entry. Secure Access: How to Register for Certain Online Self-Help Tools provides you with the information you need to make the request.
  • By mail: Please allow 5 to 10 days for delivery. Use only the “Adjusted Gross Income” line entry.

A valid email address is needed to get notifications that the IRS accepted a return.

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penAbout NATP Research

NATP Federal Tax Researchers

Our on-site team of tax professionals answers more than 20,000 questions each year on a variety of federal tax issues affecting your clients. Several of our tax researchers are CPAs and enrolled agents with broad tax knowledge and access to the most diverse research library in the industry.

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Information included in this article is accurate as of the publish date. This post is not reflective of tax law changes or IRS guidance that may have occurred after the date of publishing. All taxpayer circumstances are different, and NATP recommends contacting research services if you have specific questions about your clients’ tax situations.

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