The IRS is not accepting any personal returns until January 29, with the first deadline on April 17, 2018.

If you have your return prepared before that time, the return will sit at the tax firm, queued in their tax software, until the transmission of the returns on January 29.

Returns that have refunds from earned income credit and additional child tax credit will not have any refunds issued until after mid-February, with these refunds not being deposited until after February 27.

Direct deposit is still the safest and fastest way to receive your refund, with most refunds issued in less than 21 days.