How long do you wait to file taxes?

Everything should be sent out by Feb 15, based on all the letters/email I've received from my financial institutions. I usually wait until late Feb (assuming I have everything).

I always wait until either 14, 15, or 16 April to have my accountant file my taxes. I don't want to give the government one penny before I absolutely have to.

Once I have my spreadsheet all completed (has a list of all accounts I will receive documents for), I file.

I don't file until mid April, since I always owe money. But I'll probably finish my return by the end of the month.

Regardless of my best estimation for the W4's, the fed owes us and we owe the state, and the net is in my favor so I want to file ASAP.

I thought the deadline for documents was 1/31?

Quote from Dr. J : Regardless of my best estimation for the W4's, the fed owes us and we owe the state, and the net is in my favor so I want to file ASAP. I thought the deadline for documents was 1/31?

Technically it is 1/31 but you cant file a complaint till a few weeks after, effectively making mid feb the actual deadline to get your papers by.

Quote from Dr. J : Regardless of my best estimation for the W4's, the fed owes us and we owe the state, and the net is in my favor so I want to file ASAP. I thought the deadline for documents was 1/31?

Why not file your fed taxes now, and wait until mid-April to do your state taxes? Get your refund quickly, but don't pay the state until you have to...

Filed mine on Jan 29th and got my refund Feb 8th.

Quote from ch1sox : Filed mine on Jan 29th and got my refund Feb 8th.

Damn... I filed mine on Jan 27th...refund is suppose to be here by Feb 14.

Late March. I'm always getting corrected forms from my broker and hate having to refile because if it. As a rule, if my form hasn't been corrected at least once already, I don't bother even starting.

I filed mine January 30th-ish, I believe.

Then about 3 days ago I get a 1098-T form from my university with a listed amount for "qualified tuition and expenses" (for the American Opportunities Tax Credit) that is significantly less than the amount I provided. The figures I gave were in good faith based on all of the documentation that I have but now I'm worried the IRS will cross-check the 1098-T submitted by the school and my tax return information and is gonna come after me thinking I tried to defraud them out of a few hundred in tax credits.

Quote from MrVCU : I filed mine January 30th-ish, I believe. Then about 3 days ago I get a 1098-T form from my university with a listed amount for "qualified tuition and expenses" (for the American Opportunities Tax Credit) that is significantly less than the amount I provided. The figures I gave were in good faith based on all of the documentation that I have but now I'm worried the IRS will cross-check the 1098-T submitted by the school and my tax return information and is gonna come after me thinking I tried to defraud them out of a few hundred in tax credits.

This is what I worry about - I don't estimate anything unless I know I won't get a form. There always seem to be loose ends that pop up, although most of them don't amount to much (e.g. the whopping $10 in interest income I might receive on a savings account). Nevertheless, I want to be sure that I include everything the IRS already has a record on, just to not raise any flags.

Quote from zzyzzx : Late March. I'm always getting corrected forms from my broker and hate having to refile because if it. As a rule, if my form hasn't been corrected at least once already, I don't bother even starting.

I had to refile because of a corrected W2 once - what a PITA. I should have raised hell with the employer.

Quote from Dr. J : I had to refile because of a corrected W2 once - what a PITA. I should have raised hell with the employer.

All it takes is one time - and then you are never doing your taxes early again!