When can I file for 2018?
The online software is not yet available for a 2018 return, no
date has been set yet but usually early December is when it opens. And the Downloaded versions usually come out in mid to late November BUT these are only beta versions and are not fully operational until sometime mid to late January and some forms & state programs are not ready until sometime in February.
Due to the massive tax reform expect things to be delayed this year but when the program is operational it will have incorporated ALL the changes.
Everyone should be wary of filing too early this year as the system will be quite buggy for a while. Last time there were massive late changes some folks who filed early in January got "stuck or lost" in the IRS system for months so patience will need to be exercised this year for sure.
Do not try to prepare your return using your
pay stub. The information on your pay stub will not match the W-2 that
will be sent by your employers to the IRS. Trying to file early and then
ending up having to amend because you used incorrect/incomplete information is
counter-productive. If your return is incorrect, and you have to amend
it, it will take months for the IRS to process your amended return.
Employers, banks, Social Security, brokers, etc. have until the
end of January/early February 2019 to provide you with the documents you will
need to enter on your 2018 tax return.
The IRS will not be accepting returns until an as yet undetermined
date in January. They will not begin issuing refunds until at least
mid-February... late February if you have any EIC or ACTC like the past couple of years.
