Tax Season 2026 Opening Dates – Quick Overview

The 2026 tax season has already opened , but the exact opening date depends on which country you’re in:

  • United States (IRS): The 2026 filing season opened on Monday, 26 January 2026 , when the IRS began accepting and processing 2025 tax returns.
  • South Africa (SARS): The 2026 tax filing season opened on 1 July 2026 , starting with an auto‑assessment period.

If you’re asking from a US perspective, the “opening” already happened in January. If you’re in South Africa, it just opened today (1 July 2026).

United States: 2026 IRS Tax Season

When it opened

  • Official start date: 26 January 2026.
  • This is the first day the IRS will accept and process individual 2025 tax returns (Form 1040 series).

Key dates

  • Filing opens: 26 January 2026
  • Regular deadline: 15 April 2026 (for most taxpayers to file 2025 returns and pay any tax due).
  • Extensions (if filed): Typically up to 15 October 2026 for those who request an extension to file.

What’s new in 2026

From 2026, the IRS has introduced changes around direct deposit for refunds :

  • Refunds can be frozen if:
    • No direct deposit info is provided, or
    • The bank rejects the direct deposit.
  • If frozen, the IRS sends a CP53E notice , giving you:
    • About 30 days to update bank details via your IRS Online Account , or
    • If you don’t act, a paper check after about six weeks.

This means many people are being told to set up or check their IRS Online Account before or as soon as tax season opens.

South Africa: 2026 SARS Tax Season

When it opened

SARS announced that the 2026 tax filing season:

  • Opened on 1 July 2026 , starting with an auto‑assessment period.

Auto‑assessment period

  • Runs from 1 to 12 July 2026.
  • For taxpayers with:
    • Less complex tax matters, and
    • Information already fully provided by employers and third‑party data providers.
  • These taxpayers may receive an auto‑assessment without needing to submit a return, unless they dispute it.

Full filing season for most taxpayers

For non‑provisional and provisional taxpayers who must submit returns:

  • Filing period: 13 July 2026 to 23 October 2026.
  • This is the main window when most people file their 2025 year‑of‑assessment returns.

Provisional taxpayers

  • Provisional taxpayers have a later deadline: 22 January 2027 to file their returns for the 2026 tax year.

How to file / get help

  • You can:
    • File via eFiling or the SARS mobile app, or
    • Book an appointment at a SARS Service Centre online, by phone (0800 00 7277, option 0), or via SMS to 47277 with “Booking” + your ID/passport number.

If You’re Planning for Next Year

Even though 2026 is already “open”:

  • In the US , you can still file anytime before the deadline (or after, if you owe tax, but late fees may apply).
  • In South Africa , you’re now in the main filing window if you’re a non‑provisional taxpayer: 13 July – 23 October 2026.

If you tell me your country (and whether you’re an individual, provisional taxpayer, or business), I can give you a tailored checklist and deadlines. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.