when did the irs start accepting returns in 2026

The IRS started accepting and processing 2025 federal income tax returns for the 2026 filing season on Monday, January 26, 2026.

Quick Scoop: 2026 IRS Start Date

• Official opening day: January 26, 2026.

• What it means: That’s the first day the IRS began accepting and processing individual Form 1040 returns for the 2025 tax year.

• Deadline reminder: For most taxpayers, the filing deadline in 2026 remains April 15.

So if you e‑filed before January 26, 2026, your return would typically have been held in queue by your tax software or preparer and then transmitted to the IRS once systems opened on that date.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.