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Category Press Release Related Division Income Tax

Posted: February 2, 2026

April 15 Deadline for Filing Individual Income Tax Returns

MONTGOMERY – ALDOR is up and running for individual income tax season, and we wanted to share a few tips to help you file safely and get your refund quickly:

Filing

• FILE ELECTRONICALLY – File your return electronically, direct deposit your refund, and receive your refund quicker than those who file paper returns. If you must pay, electronic payment options are convenient, safe, and secure. For more information on electronic filing options, visit revenue.alabama.gov/individual-corporate/individual-income-tax-electronic-filing-options/.
• FREE FILING WITH APPROVED SOFTWARE PROVIDERS – Qualifying taxpayers may prepare and e-file both federal and Alabama individual income tax returns using authorized Alabama online individual e-file providers. Many of these online e-file providers offer free filing programs for eligible taxpayers. Find a list of Tax Year 2025 authorized Alabama online individual e-file providers at revenue.alabama.gov/individual-corporate/individual-income-tax-electronic-filing-options/.
• DIRECT FILE FOR FREE – File state returns for free using My Alabama Taxes at myalabamataxes.alabama.gov.
• FORMS – 2025 Individual Income Tax forms and instructions can be found at revenue.alabama.gov/forms/. Under Filter Forms, select the Form Year; then under Categories/Tax, select Individual Income Tax. BUT – the best way to file is electronically!

Security

• SAFETY FIRST – ALDOR plays a critical role in preventing taxpayer money from ending up in the wrong hands. We take a little extra time to perform fraud detection reviews, complete accuracy checks, and match against employer W2s, but this diligent work helps ensure that you get your money instead of fraudsters.
• KEEP IN TOUCH – After you file, ALDOR may ask for more information. If you receive a letter from us, respond quickly so we can review your information and get your refund to you as soon as possible. REMEMBER: ALDOR will NEVER contact taxpayers initially by phone, text, or email, only by letters sent through the mail.
• BEWARE OF SCAMS – DO NOT GIVE ANYONE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION WITHOUT CONFIRMING THEY ARE THE PROPER AUTHORITIES!
  • Fraud Detection. ALDOR uses a variety of methods to validate identities and tax returns. To help protect personally identifiable information and keep dollars from going to criminals, ALDOR may send the following:
  • An Identity Confirmation letter that asks you to take a short online quiz or provide copies of documents to verify your identity (revenue.alabama.gov/individual-corporate/alabama-taxpayer-identity-protection-program/).
  • A return verification letter that asks you to verify online whether you or your representative filed the tax return ALDOR received.
  • Accuracy Checks. ALDOR stops and reviews about 3 to 5 percent of individual income tax returns each year to resolve mathematical errors or request missing information. To be sure that tax returns correctly reflect information and intent, ALDOR may send:
  • A Request for Information letter that asks for missing or additional information to support data reported on the tax return.
  • A Tax Computation Change letter that explains changes that were made to the tax return.

Refunds

• HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE? When and how you file your return largely determines when your refund can be issued. For example, we receive, and process electronically filed returns significantly faster than mailed returns. Also, returns tend to pile up later in the season and take longer to process. Generally, about 30 percent of income tax returns are filed in April. Returns filed this close to the deadline may require as many as 90 days to process.
  • First‐time filers: It takes additional time for new filers to be validated and entered into ALDOR’s system (approximately 10-12 weeks). Until then, the Refund Status website won’t recognize these taxpayers and will report their returns as “not entered in system.”
  • E‐filers: Generally, e‐filers can expect their refund about 8‐10 weeks after the date they receive their filing acknowledgment from the state.
  • Paper filers: These returns take about 8‐12 weeks to process. ALDOR personnel must manually enter information from paper returns into the database.
  • If you receive a letter from ALDOR asking for more information or to verify identity, the refund will be delayed until the requested information is received and reviewed by ALDOR.
• WHERE’S YOUR REFUND? ALDOR will begin releasing income tax refunds on March 2. The best way for you to track the progress of your refund is My Alabama Taxes (myalabamataxes.alabama.gov), available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you don’t have internet access, then you can track your refund by calling our refund hotline at 1-855-894-7391 or our daytime refund status line at 334-309-2612. For more information about Individual Income Tax, visit revenue.alabama.gov/individual-corporate/.

Press Contact
Tax Policy and Governmental Affairs Division
taxpolicy@revenue.alabama.gov
334-242-1380

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