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The Internal Revenue Service will start processing individual income tax returns for 2012 on Jan. 30.

More than 120 million households, or the vast majority of U.S. tax filers, will be able to file returns as of the end of this month, the IRS said in a statement today. The remainder, such as those who claim general business credits, will have to wait until late February or March because the IRS needs time to update forms.

The delay for filers results from Congress passing last- minute changes to tax law on Jan. 1.

“We have worked hard to open tax season as soon as possible,” Steven Miller, the acting IRS commissioner, said in a statement. “This date ensures we have the time we need to update and test our processing systems.”

The IRS had planned to open electronic filing this year on Jan. 22.

“This is difficult news,” said Kathy Pickering, executive director of the Tax Institute at H&R Block Inc. (HRB), which is the largest U.S. tax preparer. “No one will be getting a refund in January.”

‘Thin Month’
Those who can afford it least will be among those most affected by the delay, Pickering said. That’s because many of the earliest filers each year are low-income, working families who claim the earned income tax credit and use their refunds to pay bills or get their cars repaired.

“This is a lifeline for these individuals and families,” Pickering said. “January is going to be a pretty thin month for a lot of people.”

The IRS had said last month that it might delay tax-filing season for as many as 100 million households, or two-thirds of the total, if Congress didn’t reach an end-of-year budget agreement.

The legislation signed by President Barack Obama on Jan. 2 averted most of the $600 billion in tax increases and spending cuts -- known as the fiscal cliff -- that were scheduled to take effect this month if Congress didn’t act.

The law also affected tax provisions that were pending for 2012 returns. It permanently indexed the alternative minimum tax to inflation, preventing it from expanding to more households, and extended tax credits that expired at the end of 2011 such as those for energy improvements and businesses.

Companies including H&R Block and Intuit Inc. (INTU)’s TurboTax said they have readied tax-preparation products for the recent tax-law changes and software will update automatically or prompt users to make changes when they log on.

“TurboTax is up to date with all recent tax-law changes so taxpayers can file early and be first in line to get their refund,” Ashley McMahon, a spokeswoman for TurboTax, said in an e-mail. “Once the IRS begins accepting e-filed returns on Jan. 30, TurboTax submits returns on a first-in, first-out basis.”