ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) - Tax season opened Jan. 26 with several changes affecting Georgia taxpayers, including the elimination of federal taxes on tips and a reduced state tax rate.

Taxpayers have until April 15 to file their returns unless they request an extension. Financial experts recommend getting organized early to avoid processing delays and ensure maximum refunds.

“If you don’t want to be delayed, I would definitely file electronically,” said Kent Patrick with Bush Wealth Management. “The old way of doing the paper filing can create a little bit of an issue, and sometimes we do see delays.”

Before filing, taxpayers should gather essential documents, including W-2 forms for employed workers and 1099 forms for freelance or contract work. The 1099 form also documents interest, dividends, and capital gains.

Form 1098 documents mortgage interest and student loan interest. Taxpayers should also collect receipts for charitable donations to churches or other 501(c)(3) organizations.

This is the first tax season since President Trump’s spending bill eliminated federal taxes on tips for service workers. The IRS has updated documentation to reflect this change for self-filers.

Patrick recommends consulting with a CPA or accountant about other minor federal changes based on individual situations.

Georgia reduced its state tax rate to 5.19%, which should benefit most Georgia filers on their state returns.

Georgia residents may qualify for a one-time state refund of $250 to $500 due to a budget surplus. The refund applies to individuals who filed taxes in 2023 and 2024, based on filing status and eligibility requirements.

Patrick recommends filing electronically and choosing direct deposit for faster refund processing. Taxpayers can track their refund status using the IRS website’s “Where’s My Refund” feature, which provides alerts throughout the process.

“Just try to be diligent and get all the documents necessary and get them on time,” Patrick said.

The 2025 tax season introduces Trump savings accounts and investment accounts available for children born between 2025 and 2028. The federal government provides a one-time $1,000 deposit for qualifying accounts.

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