when does irs accept tax returns

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

Key 2026 dates

• IRS opening day: January 26, 2026 – this is when electronic filing officially opens and returns start being accepted.

• Free File early access: Some IRS Free File options and software may let you prepare and queue your return a bit earlier, but it will not be transmitted to the IRS until opening day.

• Regular filing deadline: For most calendar-year filers, the due date to file 2025 returns is April 15, 2026.

How this affects your refund

• If you e-file and choose direct deposit, many refunds are issued within about 10–21 days after IRS acceptance , assuming no issues and no special credits that slow processing.

• Early filers who submit as soon as the IRS opens may start seeing refunds in early to mid-February 2026.

Quick tips for early filers

• Make sure all W‑2s, 1099s, and other tax forms have arrived before filing to avoid amended returns later.

• E-file with direct deposit for the fastest processing; paper returns can add several weeks of delay.

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