It’s often possible to file your tax return as early as February, once you’ve received your W2 from your employer and your 1099s from your investments.

The IRS will even accept your return as soon as January.

But this is one situation where the early bird doesn’t always get the worm.

Ways filing early may help you Though many people think of filing their tax returns as a dreaded chore to be postponed for as long as possible, there are many reasons why it can make sense to file early.

Get your refund faster: If you’ve overpaid your taxes and are expecting a refund, it makes a lot of sense to file early. You’ll get your refund sooner not only because you’re filing earlier, but also because the IRS probably won’t be as busy in January, February or March as it will be in April and beyond.

Get it over with: Why spend the first three months of the year with nagging thoughts of April 15 in your mind when you have the option to get it over with now? Avoiding procrastination can give you a lot of peace of mind that will make you happier and more effective in other, more important areas of your life.

Avoid crowds at the post office: According to the IRS, in 2008, 57.8 percent of taxpayers filed their returns electronically – that means the other 42.2 percent are still mailing theirs, and joining the crowds at the mail office to do so.

If you’re planning to be one of them, whether out of habit, a desire to avoid the unnecessary expense of electronic filing, or the belief that paper filers are less likely to get audited, consider the extra time you’ll have to waste at the post office if you wait until April 15 to mail your return.

Avoid the possibility of being late and owing more: You might think you’ll have plenty of time to prepare your return on April 14, but you can’t predict what life might throw at you. If you have the time now, why not get your taxes taken care of? If it turns out that you owe money and you end up filing late, you’ll waste money paying interest and possibly penalties.

Put your best foot forward: You might sit down at the last minute to do your taxes only to discover that something is making your tax situation more complicated than you’re used to and that you won’t have time to figure it out before you submit your return.

What’s more, if you’re in a hurry, it can be easy to mess up even the simplest return by forgetting to enter your Social Security number or making an error in a calculation. Why risk making a rushed mistake that could lead to a costly audit?

Avoid high-interest loans: If you’re expecting a refund and you have bills to pay, getting your taxes filed quickly can actually help save you money. Instead of resorting to options like adding to your credit card balance, paying bills late or getting a payday loan to tide you over until late April or early may (which is when you’ll get your refund if you file on April 15), get your refund early and use it to stay on track with your finances.

In general, filing early is best for people who have simple tax returns or who are expecting a refund. more advanced taxpayers are more likely to see negative results from filing early.