DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — It arrived in the blink of an eye. Monday, Jan. 27, marks the start of the 2025 tax season. Most Americans are now able to begin filing their returns this week. 

For many local tax services, their waiting rooms are packed with guests. Kate's Tax Service in Decatur said they've been gearing up for today. "We've been filing probably for the last week and a half. You just kind of stockpile them until they're ready," said Kelly Klemaier, a tax preparer. 

Time for Taxes! Here's what you need to know

Now, that time is here. 

Klemaier reminded tax payers there are a multitude of ways you can pay them. "They could do it in person. They could drop it off here. There's many different ways to get it done!"

The Internal Revenue Service said it expects more than 140 million individual tax returns to be filed. Kate's Tax Service emphasized the importance of getting them filed before the deadline.

"Deadlines are super important with the IRS...," explained Nathan Frazier, a tax preparer. "Especially this year, April 15th is truly April 15th. That's the last tax day to file."

While most filers are required to submit their forms by that deadline to avoid incurring penalties and interest, relief provisions are in place for those affected by recent natural disasters.

Frazier also added those who might be paying taxing for the first time this year should pay close attention to what they're filling out. 

"It's just about getting the forms correctly put together. There's just certain things that you may need to learn, that are special to your situation. For example, student loans and those sort of things all come into play as you start to get off mom and dad's tax return. "

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