Tax Accountant Adjusting To New Filing Date

by Jill Johnson
January 10, 2013 4:51 PM


The Internal Revenue Service announced that tax season will get a late start this year. People can't begin filing their taxes until the end of the month. Not only will it mean getting your tax return check later, but tax filers are having to adjust as well.

Each year, Tim Ness says Ness Tax and Bookkeeping Service in Sioux Falls, files around 2 thousand tax returns. But this year, those returns are getting pushed back a bit.

"Our profits, our money making time is being post-poned until the future," said Ness.

Ness says because of the late changes made to tax laws, the IRS has to update their computer programs, therefore, won't be accepting returns until Jan. 30.

But those who, say, buy assetts and depreciate those assetts over time or for those who bought energy efficient appliances for their home and are looking to get an energy credit, they'll have to wait even longer. They will have to wait until late February or even March to file theirs. That's most of Ness' clients.

Ness said, "We specialize in individual, small business returns so we'll have a lot of returns that will need to wait."

And so will his employees.

"We've been put on hold a little bit and our training has started a little bit later for those people who come in and help us in tax season so it's been hard to kind of stay on top of it and kind of see how things would develop," said Ness.

But that doesn't mean Ness isn't hard at work. He and his employees are doing as much as they can as soon as they can.
    
Ness said, "We have scheduled folks to come in and get their returns prepared although at this point, their software is still in development so their not even allowing us to print the forms for people to sign so they're going to have to come back."

And when the day comes and W2's get issued, Ness believes their peak time, late January and early February, will be busier than ever.

According to Ness, the IRS won't process paper returns any sooner than electronic returns, so you're not going to gain anything by putting your return in the mail. He says it's still best to file electronically and have your return directly deposited to your bank account.