The IRS has not officially announced the exact first day to file 2025 tax returns (the 2026 tax season) yet, but most expert forecasts put opening day in late January 2026 , likely around January 24.

What “first day to file 2026” really means

When people ask “when is the first day to file taxes 2026,” they’re usually talking about:

  • Filing a 2025 federal income tax return that will be due April 15, 2026 in most cases.
  • The date the IRS begins accepting e‑filed returns, which historically is the last 10 days of January.

For 2026, several tax guides and planners currently estimate the IRS will open the season “around January 24, 2026” , but stress that this is a projection, not an official IRS announcement.

Why the exact date isn’t “locked in” yet

  • The official start date depends on IRS systems testing, any last‑minute tax law changes, and operational issues, so it is usually confirmed in an IRS news release in early January of that year.
  • Financial and tax‑planning sites therefore publish “expected” or “projected” dates (like “around Jan. 24, 2026”) to help people plan, but they still recommend checking the IRS newsroom as January 2026 approaches.

Early filing tricks (before IRS opens)

  • Many tax software providers let you prepare and “hold” your return in early January , then automatically transmit it to the IRS the moment the season opens.
  • Doing this can help you get in the early refund batches and reduce fraud risk, since your legitimate return hits the system before any impostor tries.

Key 2026 tax season dates to know

  • Expected first IRS filing day: Late January 2026, likely around January 24 (projected, not official).
  • Regular filing deadline for 2025 returns: April 15, 2026, unless that date is moved because of a weekend/holiday or local disaster relief.
  • Typical extension deadline: October 15, 2026, if you request an extension on time.

Bottom line: For planning and SEO purposes, “when is the first day to file taxes 2026” currently points to late January 2026, likely around January 24 , but the precise date will only be confirmed by an IRS announcement in early January 2026, so it’s wise to note that it is an expected date and advise readers to check the IRS site for the final word.

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