When Will Virginia Start Accepting Tax Returns?

Understanding when the Commonwealth begins to accept and process individual income tax returns is necessary for financial planning. The state’s operational calendar for tax submissions is closely linked to federal timelines, which dictates the first day residents can officially file.

Virginia’s 2024 Tax Filing Start Date

The Virginia Department of Taxation aligns its schedule with the Internal Revenue Service, which has announced it will begin accepting and processing 2024 federal tax returns on Monday, January 27, 2025. Consequently, Virginia will start accepting and processing its state income tax returns on or around this same date. This synchronization means that even if a taxpayer prepares their Virginia return before late January, the state will not begin the formal processing of that return until it opens its systems alongside the IRS. Any returns submitted prior to this official start are simply held.

Filing Before the Official Opening Date

Many taxpayers use commercial tax software to prepare and file their returns. These platforms often allow users to complete their tax forms well before the official start of the filing season. When a user finalizes and “submits” their Virginia return through one of these software programs in early January, the return is not immediately sent to the Virginia Department of Taxation.

Instead, the tax preparation software places the completed return into a holding queue. The software company will then transmit the return to the state only after Virginia’s systems are officially open for the season. This feature provides the convenience of getting the preparation out of the way, but it does not result in the state processing the return any earlier than the designated start date.

Virginia Tax Refund Timelines

After a return is successfully filed and accepted by the Virginia Department of Taxation, the timeline for receiving a refund varies based on the filing method. Taxpayers who file electronically can generally expect their refund to be processed within four weeks. This method is significantly faster and is encouraged by the state to expedite the refund process.

For those who choose to mail a paper tax return, the processing time is considerably longer. A paper-filed return may take up to eight weeks or more to be processed by the department. To monitor the status of a refund, taxpayers can use the “Where’s My Refund?” tool available on the official Virginia Department of Taxation website.