Tax season is underway across the United States, and the IRS is reminding taxpayers that they have until April 15 to file their 2025 returns. Advisors say the best way to reduce stress is to start preparing now and keep the process organized, rather than pushing everything to the final days. “Don’t wait until the last minute but also don’t rush,” said Tom O’Saben, director of tax content and government relations at the National Association of Tax Professionals.
O’Saben said one of the key steps is to gather needed paperwork in one place before filling out returns, including having documents from the previous year available. He also said taxpayers can create an identity protection PIN with the IRS to guard against identity theft, and that the IRS will require the PIN to file the tax return once it has been created. The average refund last year was $3,167, and analysts have projected it could be $1,000 higher this year as the new tax law changes flow through to returns.
For many taxpayers, the starting point is a basic checklist of documents. The IRS preparation list cited by the AP includes Social Security numbers, W-2 forms for workers, 1099-G for people who are unemployed, and 1099 forms for those who are self-employed. It also includes savings and investment records, along with documentation for eligible deductions such as educational expenses, medical bills and charitable donations, and documentation for credits such as the child tax credit and retirement savings contributions credit. To confirm a more detailed list for specific situations, the AP report directed taxpayers to the IRS website.
This year’s returns also reflect federal changes tied to the Republican tax and spending bill that President Donald Trump signed over the summer, according to the AP. Among the changes, the report said there is a new standard deduction structure for 2025: $15,750 for single taxpayers, $31,500 for married couples filing jointly, and $23,625 for heads of household. It also said taxpayers may see an expanded SALT deduction cap, rising from $10,000 to $40,000.
The AP report said the SALT update is also known as the Working Families Tax Cut and was enacted in July 2025. Keith Hall, president and CEO of the National Association for the Self-Employed and a certified public accountant, said in the AP report that the change is a “big benefit” for states such as California, New York and New Jersey, which tend to have higher state income taxes. The report described SALT as a federal deduction for certain state and local taxes paid during the year and noted that the deduction had been capped at $10,000 since it started in 2018.
Another change highlighted by tax professionals is a new deduction for certain tips. Miguel Burgos, a certified public accountant and an expert for TurboTax, said the phrase “no tax on tips” is not exactly accurate because the deduction applies only to qualified tips and is subject to income limitations. Burgos said, “It can be cash, it can be electronic as well. But the main thing is, hey, it has to be voluntary (tips),” in the AP report. The AP report said the maximum annual deduction is capped at $2,500 and phases out for taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income over $150,000, or $300,000 for joint filers, and that the deduction is limited to specific industries where tipping is common, including bartenders, food servers, musicians and housekeeping cleaners.
To claim the new tip deduction, the report said taxpayers will need to fill out a new tax form called Schedule 1-A, which is also used to claim and calculate other deductions coming from the tax and spending law. The AP report said Schedule 1-A is intended for four deductions, including the change to state and local tax deductions, deductions on qualified tips, and car loan and senior deductions. Taxpayers who are unsure which provisions apply to them were directed to IRS resources and preparer guidance.
For people who find the tax-filing process confusing, the AP report said there are free options and assistance programs. It said IRS Direct File will not be offered this year, but that IRS Free File is available for those who make $89,000 or less per year. Under IRS Free File, taxpayers can choose from eight IRS partners, including TaxAct and FreeTaxUSA. It also said licensed professionals such as certified public accountants can help, and the IRS offers a directory of tax preparers across the country.
The AP report also described free federally funded help options, including Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE). It said VITA is available for people who earn $69,000 or less, have disabilities, or are limited English speakers, while TCE is available for those 60 or older. The IRS maintains a site to help locate organizations hosting VITA and TCE clinics.
Beyond choosing a filing method, the report emphasized common mistakes and scams that can occur during tax season. O’Saben said taxpayers should double-check their name on their Social Security card and use it consistently on returns, warning that a married name may not exist if it has not been filed with Social Security. He also said people should search for online tax statements if they selected paperless contact options, and to make sure they report all of their income, including second jobs using the correct W-2 or 1099 forms for each job. The AP report added that if taxpayers make mistakes or miss items, the IRS can audit the return and ask for documentation.
The AP report also included specific reminders related to tax credits. It said the child tax credit is $2,200 per child, but only $1,700 is refundable, and the refundable portion is called the Additional Child Tax Credit, which requires at least $2,500 of income for the tax year. It added that parents and guardians may qualify for the full credit amount if their annual income is not more than $200,000, or $400,000 for joint returns, with higher-income parents potentially eligible for a partial credit.
Finally, the report advised taxpayers on refunds and fraud protection. It said the IRS began phasing out paper tax refund checks last September and recommended direct deposit. O’Saben said tax scams ramp up during tax season and that the IRS uses none of the methods commonly used by scammers, such as phone calls, texts, email or social media. He also said some scams are operated by tax preparers and urged taxpayers to ask questions, obtain a copy of their return, and review each entry if they cannot see what their preparer is working on. The AP report concluded by noting the value of keeping copies of tax return documents for five to seven years in case of an audit years later.
If you’d like, I can adapt this into a shorter “checklist” layout for the MSI newsfeed style while keeping every stated figure and quote intact.