Raleigh, N.C. — The North Carolina Department of Revenue (NCDOR) will officially open the 2014 tax filing season on Jan. 31. In accordance with scheduling outlined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), NCDOR will begin processing individual income tax returns at the end of January.
Originally slated for Jan. 21, the IRS was forced to delay the opening due to the 16-day government closure last year. As a result of the closure, IRS staff was unable to complete the necessary programming and testing of tax processing systems as scheduled.
Taxpayers or accountants who submit a filing prior to the season’s opening should remain mindful that the IRS will not transmit any returns to NCDOR prior to this date. Additionally, individuals should use the adjusted opening date as the baseline when calculating tax refund expectations.
Taxpayers are encouraged to submit their filings electronically. By using the e-file or Free File with direct deposit option, individuals can help expedite the tax refund process. Additionally, the IRS advised that it will not process any tax returns before Jan. 31, so filing on paper prior to this date will provide no advantage to taxpayers.
In preparation for the upcoming filing season, NCDOR has extended hours for phone assistance. Taxpayers with questions can contact the department from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday at 1-877-252-3052 to receive guidance from customer service specialists.
For more information concerning the tax filing process, including copies of all forms, please visit our website at www.dornc.com.
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