IRS opens 2026 tax filing season
The Internal Revenue Service began accepting and processing federal individual income tax returns for tax year 2025 on Jan. 26, officially opening the 2026 filing season. The agency expects about 164 million individual returns to be filed before the Wednesday, April 15, deadline.
“This filing season is especially meaningful as America marks its 250th anniversary and the IRS commemorates 40 years of electronic filing,” said Internal Revenue Service CEO Frank J. Bisignano. He encouraged taxpayers to file electronically and use direct deposit to speed processing and refunds.
Filing electronically remains the fastest way to receive a refund. Options include IRS Free File for eligible taxpayers, Free File Fillable Forms for those who self-prepare, and free assistance through Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs.
Most refunds are issued within 21 days. Paper refund checks are being phased out, so most taxpayers must provide bank information for direct deposit. Refunds tied to the Earned Income Tax Credit and Additional Child Tax Credit are expected by March 2 for eligible filers.
Taxpayers can track refunds through “Where’s My Refund?,” the IRS2Go app, or an online IRS account.
