WASHINGTON — As tax filing season approaches, the Internal Revenue Service is reminding taxpayers there are things they should do now to get ready for filing season. For most taxpayers, Dec. 31 is the last day to take actions that will impact their 2016 tax returns. For example, charitable contributions are deductible in the year made. Donations charged to a credit card before the end of 2016 count for the 2016 tax year, even if the bill isn’t paid until 2017. Checks to a cha

The Internal Revenue Service has announced that tax season will open on Monday, January 23, 2017. The IRS will begin accepting electronic tax returns that day, with more than 153 million individual tax returns expected to be filed in 2017. Every year, taxpayers have questions about early filing. Many software companies and tax professionals will accept tax returns before opening day, January 23, 2017. That doesn't mean that your tax return gets filed early. Those software com