The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced that due to tax law changes contained in the tax relief and unemployment insurance extension act enacted on December 17, some taxpayers will have to wait until mid- to late February to file their 2010 individual tax returns.
Along with all taxpayers who itemize deductions on Form 1040 Schedule A, taxpayers claiming any of three specific deductions extended by the new law will need to wait to file. The three deductions involve state and local sales tax deductions, deductions for higher education tuition, and deductions for expenses and fees paid by educators.
According to the IRS passage of the law so late in the tax year did not leave it enough time to reprogram its tax return processing software to account for the changes.
"The majority of taxpayers will be able to fill out their tax returns and file them as they normally do," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman in a press release. "We will do everything we can to minimize the impact of recent tax law changes on other taxpayers. The IRS will work through the holidays and into the New Year to get our systems reprogrammed and ensure taxpayers have a smooth tax season."
"The IRS will announce a specific date in the near future when it can start processing tax returns impacted by the late tax law changes," stated the IRS. "In the interim, people in the affected categories can start working on their tax returns, but they should not submit their returns until IRS systems are ready to process the new tax law changes."
The delay applies to both paper form filers and those who file their returns electronically.
The IRS has provided details of the delay and a complete list of forms affected on its website.
Photo: Americans Rush To File Their Taxes -- Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Also See:
Federal Tax Deadline Extended to April 18
Tax Stress Relief Tips from IRS
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