Get critical updates that may affect your tax filing and recent IRS news.
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- Filing season
- Inflation adjustments
- Covid-era tax credits
- Disaster tax relief
- Clean vehicle and energy credits
Filing season
Free tax filing options – The IRS offers free online and in-person tax preparation options for eligible taxpayers through IRS Free File, IRS Direct File and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs. For military members and some veterans, MilTax generally offers free return preparation and electronic filing software for federal income tax returns and up to three state income tax returns.
Form 1099-K – Payment card and online marketplace transactions – The Internal Revenue Service issued Notice 2024-85 providing transition relief for third-party settlement organizations (TPSOs), also known as payment apps and online marketplaces, regarding transactions during calendar years 2024 and 2025.
Taxpayers who received more than $5,000 in payments for goods and services through an online marketplace or payment app in 2024 should expect to receive a Form 1099-K PDF in January 2025. A copy of this form will also be sent to the IRS.
Inflation adjustments
- For tax year 2025 – The annual inflation adjustments for tax year 2025. Revenue Procedure 2024-40 provides detailed information on adjustments and changes to more than 60 tax provisions that will impact taxpayers when they file their returns in 2026.
- For tax year 2024 – The annual inflation adjustments for more than 60 tax provisions for tax year 2024, including the tax rate schedules and other tax changes. Revenue Procedure 2023-34 provides detailed information about these annual adjustments.
Standard mileage rates:
- For 2025 – Beginning on Jan. 1, 2025, the optional standard mileage rate for automobiles driven for business will increase by 3 cents in 2025, while the mileage rates for vehicles used for other purposes will remain unchanged from 2024.
- For 2024 – Beginning on Jan. 1, 2024, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) are 67 cents per mile driven for business use. For details, see IRS issues standard mileage rates for 2024; mileage rate increases to 67 cents a mile, up 1.5 cents from 2023
Covid-era tax credits
2021 Recovery Rebate Credit – In December 2024, the IRS began issuing payments to eligible people who did not claim the Recovery Rebate Credit on their 2021 tax returns. All payments should have been received by late January 2025, and taxpayers did not need to take any action to receive these payments.
Puerto Rico families can claim the Child Tax Credit – Families with children in Puerto Rico who don't owe taxes to the IRS can still file their 2021 tax return at any point until April 15, 2025, and claim without penalty the Child Tax Credit of $3,600 per child.
Employee Retention Credit: Resolving incorrect claims – The IRS continues to urge employers to review their ERC claims. There is limited time to resolve incorrect claims without penalties and interest. Resources to check ERC eligibility:
- Warning signs of incorrect claims
- ERC Eligibility Checklist (interactive tool on IRS.gov or a printable guide PDF)
- Frequently asked questions on ERC at IRS.gov/ercfaq
If their incorrect claim is still pending, they should consider the claim withdrawal program that allows them to withdraw a pending ERC claim with no interest or penalties.
Disaster tax relief
Tax relief is available for people living in areas affected by federally declared disasters. To find out whether an area qualifies taxpayers can visit Around the Nation.
Clean vehicle and energy credits
You may be eligible for tax credits if you’ve purchased a clean vehicle or made your home more energy efficient. See Credits and deductions under the Inflation Reduction Act.