Get your 2025 tax refund early by doing so before Saturday

Taxpayers planning to file early have just one day left to set up an extra layer of security that could save them time and hassle next year.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on Thursday reminded taxpayers that the system used to request an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN) will be offline for scheduled maintenance from Saturday until early January 2025. An IP PIN is a six-digit number that protects taxpayers from someone else filing a federal tax return using them Personal numeric code or taxpayer identification number.

The IRS will begin accepting electronic second dependency applications

Starting in 2025, the IRS will accept it submitted electronically Tax returns from individuals claiming dependents who have already been claimed on another taxpayer’s return, as long as the second filer has an IP PIN. This could make the filing process much easier for the tens of millions of Americans who claim each year Earned income tax credit or the Child tax credit.

In previous years, the second filer’s return should be submitted to the IRS on paper. This year, taxpayers without an IP PIN who email and claim a dependencies which has already been claimed by another taxpayer will have theirs return rejected, delaying any refund to which he may be entitled.

Those planning to file their taxes later in the season could wait until the IP PIN system is back online and still avoid delays. The IRS says IP PINs take about four to six weeks. Still, there’s a lot of good stuff reasons to file earlyincluding getting a refund faster. The IRS often starts tax season by accepting tax returns in January.