Tax Season Tips

Tax filing season can be the source of many headaches. With tax season upon us, there are resources available to help answer your questions. IRS issues can be incredibly complicated and getting through to the right people to help can be a challenge.

If you have difficulties working with the IRS, my team may be able to assist. My office phone numbers are:

• (608) 752 - 4050 - Janesville Office
• (262) 654 - 1901 - Bristol Office
• (414) 285 - 2120 - Milwaukee Office

Here are some tips and resources that may be helpful this tax season.

Dates and Deadlines

Taxes are due on April 15, 2025, and can be filed with the IRS until that date. If you need more time, follow the instructions here to request an extension until October 15, 2025, to complete your return.

You should have already received your W2 and required filing information from your employer. Before you start, gather all the necessary information to ensure a smooth tax filing process.

Online Filing and Tax Resources

The IRS offers free Direct Online Filing for residents looking to submit basic tax returns. The IRS also offers Guided Tax Software options for individuals making $84,000 or less annually through their trusted partners page.

For more complicated returns or for those looking for assistance, the IRS offers tips on choosing a good tax professional here.

Members of the armed services and qualifying veterans can file their federal tax returns using MilTax, a free Department of Defense designed to offer support for federal and state tax returns for service members.

You can check the status of your refund online using the IRS's online refund tool. Information is updated every night and will be available 24 hours after you e-file or 4 weeks after you file a paper return.

Avoiding Tax Scams

During tax season, scammers are more active in looking for opportunities to steal your private information. The IRS will never initiate contact with you via text message or email. If you receive a text or email claiming to be an IRS, do not respond to these messages. 

Learn more about how to prevent scams and the common types of scams during tax season here.

Contacting the IRS

The IRS offers extended office hours from January 21 to May 1 at their local offices. To get an in-person appointment or to find the office location nearest you, use their Office Locator Tool on IRS.gov.

Taxpayers can visit IRS.gov 24 hours a day to get answers to tax questions. IRS.gov is the quickest and easiest option to get help. In addition, the IRS's Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA) is a tool that provides answers to several tax law questions specific to individual circumstances.

Rising Prices

This week, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the Consumer Price Index rose again by 3%, with core inflation up 3.3% over the last year. This increase was higher than predicted by economists and is above the 2.9% inflationary increase we saw in December 2024. There is a lot of work to do to get inflation under control and lower costs for Americans.

Rising prices caused by the reckless government spending and overbearing regulations of the last four years are crushing family budgets. The average Wisconsin family is spending over $10,000 more a year for the same goods and services as they were in at the start of 2021. This congress, I will continue my work to get spending under control and lower costs for working families and seniors in Wisconsin.

As always, feel free to contact my office if you have any questions, want to share an opinion, or are having trouble with a federal agency.  

On Wisconsin,

Bryan Steil
Member of Congress

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