When can I send my income tax returns to the IRS? What we know about the upcoming tax season
Here’s everything you need to know about sending your income tax returns to the IRS.
As the calendar flips into 2026, millions of Americans are wondering when they can finally send their income tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service.
The answer is now clearer than ever: the 2026 federal tax filing season kicks off on Monday, January 26, 2026, when the IRS begins accepting and processing individual tax returns for the 2025 tax year.
That date marks the official start of the filing window and gives taxpayers more than two and a half months before the regular April 15 deadline. This year follows a similar timetable to recent times, with the IRS making it known that it is ready to handle what could be a large influx of returns - around 164 million individual returns are expected.
In a letter written in late December, a group of senators warned that “the 2026 tax filing season will present a huge test for the IRS.”
Filing earlier, especially using electronic filing (e-file) with direct deposit, is traditionally the fastest way to get a refund. The IRS typically processes most e-filed returns and issues refunds within around 21 days, if everything goes smoothly.
If you are sending a paper return, processing takes longer, often several weeks. Also, the IRS has been encouraging taxpayers to provide bank account information so refunds go straight to their accounts, as paper refund checks are being phased out.
Here are the main dates to keep in mind:
• January 26, 2026: Tax season officially opens, and the IRS starts accepting 2025 returns.
• April 15, 2026: Federal returns for most taxpayers are due. Even if you file for an extension, this is the date by which any tax owed must be paid to avoid penalties.
• October 15, 2026: If you file IRS Form 4868 and request an automatic six-month extension, this is the final filing date. However, taxes owed are still due by April 15.
Here are some useful extra tips: if you are living and working abroad, the initial deadline is usually extended by two months (to June 15), but again, taxes still must be paid by April to avoid interest charges. There are also free filing options available through the IRS Free File program, starting as early as January 9 for eligible taxpayers. Independent tax software may let you prepare your return even before the IRS starts to accept submissions.
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“The Internal Revenue Service is ready to help taxpayers meet their tax filing and payment obligations during the 2026 filing season,” IRS CEO Frank Bisignano said in a news release. IRS information systems have been updated to incorporate the new tax laws and are ready to efficiently and effectively process taxpayer returns during the filing season,” he said.
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