when will they start sending out tax refunds

They’ve already started the 2026 tax season, and most people will see refunds a few weeks after their return is accepted, depending on how they file and whether they claim certain credits.

Quick Scoop

When do refunds start going out?

• The IRS opened the 2026 filing season and began accepting 2025 returns in late January 2026.

• Once your return is accepted, most federal refunds are issued within about 10–21 days if you e‑file and use direct deposit.

• That means early filers can typically start seeing refunds hit bank accounts in mid to late February 2026.

Special rules for EITC/ACTC (earned income/child credits)

Because of anti‑fraud laws, refunds that include:

• Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), and/or
• Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC)

are held until at least mid‑February each year.

For 2026:

• The IRS expects most EITC/ACTC refunds (with direct deposit and no issues) to show up in accounts by around the first days of March 2026.

Typical timeline at a glance (federal)

Here’s an approximate idea of “when will they start sending out tax refunds” for 2026:

• IRS starts accepting returns: late January 2026.

• First wave of regular (non‑EITC/ACTC) direct‑deposit refunds: mid–late February 2026.

• Most EITC/ACTC refunds via direct deposit: around early March 2026.

What you can do now

• E‑file and choose direct deposit to get your money as quickly as possible; paper filing or paper checks (where still used) can add weeks.

• Use the IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tracker once your return has been accepted to see your personal status and estimated deposit date.

Bottom line: “They” (the IRS) start sending most regular refunds a couple of weeks after returns are accepted in late January, with the earliest money usually landing in mid–late February, and special‑credit refunds mostly arriving by early March.

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