The IRS begins accepting and processing electronically filed tax returns for the 2026 filing season (covering 2025 taxes) on January 26, 2026.

Official Start Date

This date was officially announced by the IRS on January 8, 2026, marking when their systems open for submissions after internal testing and updates for new tax laws like those from the "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act. E-filed returns are typically accepted within 24-48 hours if error-free, while paper returns take longer to reach processing.

Processing Timelines

Once accepted, direct deposit refunds arrive in as little as 21 days for simple returns, though peak season (late March-April) or claims like EITC/CTC delay this until mid-March or later.

Filing Method| Acceptance Time| Refund Timeline (Direct Deposit)
---|---|---
E-file| 24-48 hours| 21 days (up to 10 business days peak) 5
Paper| 6-8 weeks| 6-8 weeks 2

Key 2026 Deadlines

  • January 31 : W-2/1099 forms due from employers.
  • April 15 : Final filing/payment deadline (extensions to October 15 possible).
  • Self-employed estimated payments: January 15.

Forum & Trending Insights

On Reddit (r/tax, r/USExpatTaxes), filers report quick e-file acceptance but variable "accepted" status updates via "Where's My Refund?" tool—often 1-3 days post-submission. With Trump's 2025 tax reforms and IRS staff cuts, experts predict heavier loads, so file early. Late January aligns with trends (e.g., Jan 29 in 2024).

TL;DR : IRS accepts returns starting Jan 26, 2026—e-file now for fastest refunds.

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