Monday, January 23, 2023, marks the beginning of the 2023 tax season, when the IRS will begin accepting and processing 2022 tax year returns.

With the three previous tax seasons impacted by the pandemic, the IRS says it has taken additional steps for 2023 to improve service for taxpayers, including hiring more than 5,000 new telephone assistors and in-person staff to help support taxpayers.

IRS tips to help with the 2023 tax season:

• Have the right information before filing. Organize and gather 2022 tax records including Social Security numbers, individual taxpayer identification numbers, adoption taxpayer identification numbers and this year’s identity protection personal identification numbers valid for calendar year 2023.

• Visit IRS.gov for questions. The IRS emphasizes it’s important to note that despite additional telephone assistors, call volumes remain at historically high levels, and urges people to visit IRS.gov.

• Speed refunds by filing electronically and choosing direct deposit. Filing electronically is the fastest and easiest way to file and receive a refund. To avoid delays in processing, avoid filing paper returns wherever possible.

The 2023 tax-filing deadline is April 18.