EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Tax filing season is just around the corner.  The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently announced that taxpayers will be able to start filing their tax returns on Monday, January 27, with the deadline to file for most people on April 15. The IRS is advising taxpayers not to rush into filing their tax return, and instead make sure they are absolutely ready to avoid delaying the process.  “The IRS recommends that people file when they’re ready. And what we mean by (that) is to consider all types of income that you may have, and make sure you have all the documentation. So when you file and get your refund, you don't have to later find out, ‘Oh, I forgot something,’ and know you have to file an amended return because that's something that slows down your refund,” said Craig Childs, a spokesperson for the IRS.  Childs said that while most taxpayers are aware of when they receive their W-2 forms from employers, many forget to consider other accounts they may hold such as investment, savings, or mutual funds accounts that also provide tax filing documentation.  “Make sure that you have the paperwork from every single type of account you have that's giving you some money, even if it's a little bit,” Childs said.  The IRS said that as a result of their modernization efforts, they will be providing enhanced and expanded tools to assist taxpayers in filing their tax returns this season.  According to the IRS, those improvements include more access to tax account information from text and voice virtual assistants, expanded features on the IRS Individual Online Account, more access to dozens of tax forms through cell phones and tablets, and expanded alerts for scams and schemes threatening taxpayers.  Childs also highlighted that this year the IRS has improved its Free File Program, which allows anyone making $84,000 or less in adjusted gross income to electronically file their tax return for free at the IRS’s website using guidance from several different software programs.  “To get it for free, you have to go to irs.gov, follow the links. It'll ask you some questions in a chat box, and lead you to the proper software to use, the ones that are best for you,” Childs said.  The IRS is encouraging people to visit their “Get Ready” page, where Childs said they lay out steps people can follow to better prepare to file their return.  The IRS also cautions people who need assistance in filing their returns to seek an accredited tax professional. You can check the IRS’s website for accredited professionals.  Robert Mendez, a long-time accredited tax professional in El Paso who owns the Mendez & Mendez Tax Service in the Lower Valley, urges people to be thorough in their preparation to file their return to avoid repercussions down the line.  “I tell my clients: ‘What you do in the dark will come to light.’ The IRS has up to four years to investigate your tax return. A lot of people ask me, ‘Will I get audited? What are my chances of getting audited?’ I tell them, ‘It's just a flip of a quarter.’ You can get audited at any given time. It can be the person making $200,000 to a person making $14,000,” Mendez said.  Mendez also said that a common misconception among his clients involves the deadline to file their return, with many thinking it applies to everyone.  “When filing their income tax returns, come April the 15th, everybody says, ‘I have to file my income tax return.’ If you owe money? Yes, April the 15th is your deadline. But if you are receiving an income tax refund, you have up to three years to file for that,” Mendez said.  You can learn more about Mendez’s tax services by clicking on their Facebook page here.