01/27/2026
January 26, 2026: Official opening day for the general filing season and the launch of IRS Free File Fillable Forms for all income levels.
February 15, 2026: Earliest date the IRS will begin accepting e-filed returns that include Form 4136 (Credit for Federal Tax Paid on Fuels).
April 15, 2026: Standard deadline for filing individual tax returns and paying any taxes owed.
October 15, 2026: Deadline for taxpayers who requested a six-month filing extension.
Refund and Filing Information
Direct Deposit: To speed up processing, the IRS strongly encourages using e-file and direct deposit.
Refund Timelines: Most refunds are issued within 21 days of filing.
Tracking Refunds: Taxpayers can use the Where's My Refund? tool 24 hours after an e-filed return is received.
EITC and ACTC: Refunds for those claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit are expected to be available by March 2, 2026.