The IRS usually starts processing individual federal tax returns in late January, but for the 2026 season there is active speculation about a slightly later start and no official date has been set yet.

When they start processing

For a typical year, the IRS:

  • Announces the official “opening day” in early January.
  • Begins accepting and processing e‑filed individual returns in the last 10 days of January in most recent seasons.

For the 2026 tax season :

  • Tax software and tax pros expect an opening sometime late January , but it has not been formally announced yet.
  • The IRS has indicated it will announce the exact date closer to the season, as usual.

Why you’re hearing about delays

There has been buzz that 2026 might start later than usual:

  • Comments from the IRS commissioner sparked speculation that filing might begin closer to Presidents Day (around February 16, 2026) , which would be roughly a three‑week delay from a normal late‑January start.
  • At the same time, the IRS has pushed back on the idea that a long delay is “locked in,” saying the official start date is still to be decided.

Because of that, current guidance from tax pros is essentially: plan on a late‑January opening, but be prepared for a possible push into early–mid February.

What that means for your refund

Once the IRS starts processing:

  • E‑filed returns with direct deposit usually see refunds within about 21 days of acceptance , assuming no issues or extra checks.
  • Paper returns can take 4–8 weeks or longer.

High‑volume weeks (the first few weeks after opening) and returns with credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit can face extra ID and fraud checks, which may delay refunds into March.

How to get ready now

Even before the IRS officially opens:

  • You can prepare your return in tax software or with a preparer; they will hold it and transmit it as soon as the IRS begins accepting returns.
  • Watch for an official IRS news release in early January 2026 announcing the exact opening date and any special rules for that season.

Bottom line: for the question “when do they start processing tax returns,” the best current answer for 2026 is “usually late January, but this year might edge closer to mid‑February—wait for the IRS’s official January announcement.”

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