Some general information of use:
1) IRS considers email to be an insecure method of communication. The IRS NEVER initiates contact with any taxpayer about their individual tax account by email. If you get an email purportedly from the IRS about your tax return, refund, contact, etc. NO MATTER HOW GENUINE IT LOOKS – it’s not real. Delete it immediately and DON’T CLICK ON ANY LINKS contained in the email.
2) For 2012 and 2013 individual taxes are going up. It’s not yet clear exactly where or by how much, but plan on it. Depending of course on the outcome of the election this November 6th, it’s possible if not likely that Congress will not act before the end of 2012 to reverse tax benefits that expired at the end of 2011 or to extend benefits that are scheduled to expire at the end of 2012. If patches to the “Alternative Minimum Tax” that expired on 12/31/2011 are not ultimately extended expect to pay thousands more on your 2012 individual income tax return.
3) Expect to have to wait longer to file your 2012 income tax return. If you’re used to filing in late January or early February, the IRS computers may not be ready for you, and depending on what and when Congress does, forms may not be available until later in the season. If past history continues, no extension to the “back end” filing deadline is likely to compensate either.
4) YOUR REFUND WILL TAKE LONGER in 2013. The IRS has been faced with serious identity theft problems and has instituted much tighter controls to get on top of this. A directly deposited refund on an electronically filed return used to be as quick as 8 days. Expect that may now be 4 to 6 weeks, longer if the IRS computer checks tag anything on your return for further examination.