Tax season has arrived. Here’s the earliest Illinois residents could get their refund

Tax season is upon us, and you can file your Illinois income tax return soon.

The federal Internal Revenue Service and Illinois Department of Revenue will accept 2023 income tax returns starting Monday, Jan. 29 this year, and the deadline to file is Monday, April 15.

More than 9 out of 10 federal refunds are issued by the IRS in fewer than 21 days, the agency reports, though some returns require a longer review period.

How to check your federal, Illinois refund status

The IRS has an online Where’s My Refund tool that’s updated daily. The tool is available 24 hours after filing a 2023 return online, three to four days after filing a 2021 or 2022 return online or at least four weeks after mailing a return.

Utilizing e-filing and direct deposit help you get your return more quickly, the IRS and Illinois Department of Revenue report.

There’s no guaranteed timeline to receive your Illinois income tax return, the state’s revenue department reports, and officials advise people to not rely on their refund to arrive by a certain date to “make major purchases or pay other financial obligations.”

Similar to the federal government’s service, Illinois residents can also use a state-specific Where’s My Refund tool to check the status of their return.

The Land of Lincoln’s tool shows whether the department has received your return, if your return is currently being or is done being processed, an estimated timeframe to receive your refund, if your return will not result in a refund and if your refund has changed.

How to get help filing your return

IRS Free File guided software is available to people making $79,000 or less in adjusted gross income, allowing you to file your federal return at no cost.

Eligible residents can use MyTax Illinois to file your original individual income tax return online for free.

To use MyTax Illinois, the following must apply to you:

• You have not filed an individual income tax return for this tax year

• You filed an IL-1040 return for tax year 2022

• Have a Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number

• Have a valid email address

• Have been an Illinois resident for at least one full year

• Are not claiming “taxable income or additions except for your Adjusted Gross Income or any tax-exempt interest from the federal 1040, subtractions except for social security income, retirement income, Illinois income tax overpayment, military pay, U.S. interest, contributions to a 529 plan such as ‘Bright Start’ or ‘Bright Directions’ with the account number, or exemptions, non-refundable credits except for property tax credit or K-12 education expense credit, or payments or refundable credits except for Illinois withholding from W-2, W-2G, 1099-G, 1099-INT, or 1099-R, estimated payments, or Earned Income Credit.”