What date does 1040 e-filing open up for 2019 returns?

[ctoukan]

There is some confusion about what the actual date is. I was told it was January 27th, and now I'm seeing in an update from the IRS Newswire, that *2020* e-filing opens on Feb 12. Anyone have an idea on this?

[TAXOH]

February 12.

[George4Tacks]

To be safe - Valentine's Day 2021.

[IRonMaN]

"I was told it was January 27th"

Who told you that?

[Just-Lisa-Now-]

Jan 27, 2020 is when the 2019 season opened, I think thats what people kept seeing thinking it was for the 2020 season (in 2021).

[abctax55]

"....and now I'm seeing in an update from the IRS Newswire"

By all means, listen to someone *other* than the official IRS announcement.

[IRonMaN]

"By all means, listen to someone *other* than the official IRS announcement."

Unless your barber told you. 😬

[ctoukan]

I spoke with Lacerte, on a call for a different matter, and was told yesterday that it opens on the 27th. I asked this question because the IRS announcement didn't qualify if that included the 2019 year or is that was the blanket date for all efiling, not just the 2020 year filing.

[ctoukan]

Your sarcasm is adorable. See my reply above. 

[TaxGuyBill · Accepted solution]

In all previous years, the prior-years returns could not be filed until the e-file system opened for the current year, which in this case is February 12th.

While it is POSSIBLE that changed and you can now file previous years (2019) before the current-year opening date, I've seen nothing that has said that.

I suspect that whoever from Intuit told you that just told you last year's opening date.

[ctoukan]

Yes, it's now clear Lacerte told me the incorrect information. Thank you for your answer!

[BobKamman]

@IRonMaN "Who told you that?"

The Passsive Voice.  They (that's the pronoun they prefer) are frequently cited as an authority on tax matters.  

[abctax55]

Deleted... I said I was gonna' stop with this madness.

[qbteachmt]

Here's what you see from Google:

"People also ask

Is the IRS accepting eFile 2020?

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced that tax season will open on Monday, January 27, 2020. The IRS will begin accepting paper and electronic tax returns that day.Jan 6, 2020"

Here's what you get from going to the IRS:

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2021-tax-filing-season-begins-feb-12-irs-outlines-steps-to-speed-refund...

Significantly, different tax years. Or, Significantly Different tax years. Choose your punctuation.