Tax Refunds 2022 dates: What is IRS calendar and deadlines?

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the world as we knew it, and it’s not likely to go back to the pre-COVID world any time soon. When it comes to filing for 2022 taxes, that’s almost definitely the case.

COVID-19 will still be a concern in Spring 2022, and a number of stimulus laws will still present challenges, as may new tax laws that could well be created by then.

This year, though, the process of filing tax is likely to be closer to the pre-pandemic ‘normal’ than either 2020 or 2021 were, as both had extended deadlines due to IRS office closures and other reasons.

When do I have to file my taxes?

You should have your taxes filed by Friday, April 15, 2022. If not, you’ll have to have filed for an automatic extension by that same date. Fortunately, tax refunds may well be received within just two or three weeks in 2022.

Before the pandemic, the IRS usually started accepting tax returns during the last week of January, though any major new tax legislation being passed at the end of 2021 could see the beginning of the acceptance procedure delayed by a couple of weeks.

When will I receive my tax return?

A number of factors contribute to when your tax return will come through, either by check or direct deposit, being:

• How early you file
• If you are claiming certain credits (Earned Income Tax Credite, Child Tax Credit)
• Whether it’s e-filed or sent by mail
• Whether you have existing federal government debts
• The COVID stimulus payments will not affect your income tax refund, though some taxpayers who didn’t receive one may be determined to have been owed one, which may see it added to their 2022 refund

It is important to note that the IRS will delay processing by at least two weeks if an income tax return has EITC or CTC in order to have them verified.