The Internal Revenue Service confirmed that the nation’s tax season will start for individual tax return filers on Monday, Jan. 27, when the tax agency will begin accepting and processing 2019 tax year returns.

The deadline to file 2019 tax returns and pay any tax owed is Wednesday, April 15. More than 150 million individual tax returns for the 2019 tax year are expected to be filed, with the vast majority of those coming before the traditional April tax deadline.

Filing electronically flags common errors and prompts taxpayers for missing information, IRS officials say. Taxpayers can get free help preparing and filing taxes through IRS Free File online (www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free) or free tax help from trained volunteers (www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-you-by-volunteers) at community sites around the country.

The IRS also reminds taxpayers that they don’t have to wait until Jan. 27 to start their tax return or contact a reputable tax preparer. In addition, IRS tax help is available 24 hours a day on IRS.gov, the official IRS website, where people can find answers to tax questions and resolve tax issues online.