Tax season begins for individual filers on Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, when the IRS will begin accepting and processing 2019 returns.

The deadline to file 2019 tax returns and pay tax owed is Wednesday, April 15, 2020. More than 150 million individual tax returns for the 2019 tax year are expected to be filed.

The IRS set the opening date to “ensure the security and readiness of key tax processing systems and to address the potential impact of recent tax legislation on … returns.”

“We encourage taxpayers to plan ahead and use the tools and information available on IRS.gov,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig in a statement. “The IRS and the nation’s tax community are committed to making this another smooth filing season.”

The IRS has also reminded taxpayers that they don’t have to wait until late this month to start their return or to contact a preparer.