The IRS is expected to start sending 2026 tax refunds in early to mid‑February 2026 for most early filers who e‑file and use direct deposit, with the very earliest direct deposits likely showing up around February 6–7 if returns are accepted on opening day.

Key 2026 refund timing (quick view)

  • The IRS has announced it will begin accepting 2025 tax year returns on Monday, January 26, 2026.
  • For accurate, error‑free e‑filed returns with direct deposit , many taxpayers can see refunds about 10–21 days after IRS acceptance.
  • A widely cited 2026 refund calendar shows: if your return is accepted Jan 26, 2026 , your direct deposit could arrive as early as Feb 6, 2026.
  • If your return is accepted Feb 2, 9, 16, or 23 , the earliest projected direct deposit dates are Feb 13, 20, 27, and Mar 6 , respectively.
  • Returns claiming Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional/Child Tax Credit (CTC/ACTC) are held for mandatory review and generally won’t be paid out before mid‑February , with many first EITC/CTC refunds expected around late February to early March.

Earliest 2026 refund dates (HTML table)

html

<table>
  <thead>
    <tr>
      <th>IRS accepts e-filed return by</th>
      <th>Earliest estimated direct deposit date (2026)</th>
      <th>Notes</th>
    </tr>
  </thead>
  <tbody>
    <tr>
      <td>Jan 26</td>
      <td>Feb 6</td>
      <td>Fastest filers, no special credits, direct deposit. [web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Feb 2</td>
      <td>Feb 13</td>
      <td>Standard e-file, direct deposit. [web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Feb 9</td>
      <td>Feb 20</td>
      <td>Standard e-file, direct deposit. [web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Feb 16</td>
      <td>Feb 27</td>
      <td>Standard e-file, direct deposit. [web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Feb 23</td>
      <td>Mar 6</td>
      <td>Standard e-file, direct deposit. [web:5]</td>
    </tr>
    <tr>
      <td>Early filers with EITC/CTC</td>
      <td>Late Feb – early Mar</td>
      <td>Held until at least Feb 15; many see first wave by Mar 6. [web:1][web:9]</td>
    </tr>
  </tbody>
</table>

How this lines up with “when does IRS start sending refunds 2026”

From a practical “when do they actually start sending money” perspective:

  • First wave of refunds :
    • Starts going out about 10 days after opening day , so roughly Feb 6, 2026 , for the very first batch of clean, direct‑deposit e‑filed returns.
  • Typical early filers :
    • If you file in late January or early February and your return is straightforward (no EITC/CTC, no identity or fraud flags), you’re likely in the Feb 6–27 window.
  • EITC/CTC filers :
    • Because of anti‑fraud rules, the IRS cannot issue these refunds before Feb 15 , and practical payout for the first wave is expected late February to early March 2026.

A simple way to think about it: once the IRS opens on Jan 26, 2026 , add about 2–3 weeks for most standard refunds, but add another week or two if you claim EITC/CTC or anything that triggers extra review.

A quick “story” example

Imagine you e‑file on January 26, your return is accepted that same day, you choose direct deposit, and you don’t claim EITC or CTC. According to 2026 refund calendars, you could realistically see your refund hit your bank around February 6 , maybe a bit later if there are processing backlogs.

But if your neighbor files the same day and claims the Earned Income Tax Credit, their refund won’t even be eligible to be released until after February 15, and many such refunds are projected to land closer to late February or the first week of March.

“Latest news” and trends for 2026

  • Several outlets note that paper checks are effectively being phased out for refunds, meaning direct deposit is now the standard and often only option , which helps speed up the earliest refund dates.
  • Analysts and financial press anticipate larger‑than‑usual average refunds in 2026 because of tax law changes enacted in mid‑2025, with some estimates suggesting an average increase of around $1,000 for many households.
  • Because of those larger refunds and new rules, many tax pros expect heavy early filing traffic , which could slightly slow down processing spikes right after opening day, even though the official guidance still says most refunds arrive within about 21 days.

Quick checklist to get your refund as early as possible

  • File electronically as soon as you have all documents (W‑2, 1099s, etc.) and at or shortly after Jan 26, 2026.
  • Choose direct deposit rather than any other payment method.
  • Double‑check your return for errors, mismatched Social Security numbers, and banking info to avoid automatic delays.
  • If you claim EITC/CTC , be prepared for a later release date (no refunds before mid‑February, many not until late February or early March).
  • Use the official “Where’s My Refund?” tracker or IRS mobile app to follow your refund once at least 24 hours have passed after e‑file acceptance.

TL;DR: For the keyword “when does IRS start sending refunds 2026,” the earliest real money movement to taxpayers is expected around Feb 6, 2026 , with most early clean direct‑deposit refunds hitting between early and late February , and EITC/CTC refunds clustering late February into early March.

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