when do irs start accepting taxes

The IRS has not yet officially announced the exact date it will start accepting 2025 tax returns (filed in the 2026 tax season), but it almost always begins in the last week of January.

What to expect for 2026 tax season

• As of January 7, 2026, news outlets report that the IRS has not released a formal start date for accepting returns.

• The IRS itself is already issuing “get ready for tax season” guidance but has not included a specific opening day in that notice.

Typical IRS start dates

• In recent years, the IRS has started accepting returns around January 27 ; for example, the 2025 filing season for 2024 returns opened on January 27, 2025.

• Tax sites and forums are currently suggesting around January 26, 2026 as a likely start date, but those are estimates and rumors, not official IRS confirmation.

What you can do right now

• You can prepare your return early using tax software; it will usually hold and transmit your return as soon as the IRS opens e‑file.

• For the official start date, watch the IRS newsroom page or press releases, which will post the exact opening day for the 2026 filing season once it is set.

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Wondering when do IRS start accepting taxes for the 2026 filing season? The IRS hasn’t announced the exact date yet, but it typically opens in the last week of January, with 2025’s season starting January 27.

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