State tax commission to start processing returns Jan. 31

The Idaho State Tax Commission will start processing 2013 Idaho individual income tax returns on Jan. 31, the same date the Internal Revenue Service begins processing federal returns.

As in previous years, all Idaho tax returns will go through accuracy checks and a fraud review before any refunds are issued.

E-filing a return is the quickest way to receive a refund, and adding the direct deposit option gets money in the bank even faster.

E-filers should expect to receive their refund within seven weeks from the date they receive their state acknowledgement.

Paper filers can find that it can take up to ten weeks for their refund to complete processing.

For first-time filers, if the online refund system says their return isn't in the Tax Commission's system, be patient, the commission said. It takes about three weeks to enter a first-time filer into the system.

Taxpayers can get help by visiting the tax commission website at tax.idaho.gov, Check refund status through the "Where's my refund" link (https://www.accessidaho.org/secure/istc/refund/status.html" or get other questions answered by calling the Tax Commission at 334-7660 in the Boise area or toll free at (800) 972-7660.

The deadline to file 2013 income taxes is April 15.