I know that many of my clients were affected by government furloughs, whether they were unable to go into work during the shutdown, or had to work without pay. Most IRS workers were furloughed as well, and we will likely experience some delays as they sort through a backlog and finalize some of the new forms. But IRS is now back open and did begin accepting filings on January 28, 2019, so it is still a good idea to start working on returns now--especially if you expect a refund.
Note for Virginia filers: Virginia General Assembly is still discussing how it will act in response to the new federal tax laws and forms, so it is not currently processing returns. We can still complete and file returns, but until the Virginia laws are finalized, the state will not be issuing refunds and its "Where's My Refund?" tool will not be working.
You are welcome to get in touch now if you feel the shutdown/furloughs will significantly impact your 2019 income and you would like to talk planning, or you can make a note of this in your package and we will talk once I have drafted your 2018 returns.
