The Internal Revenue Service announced Monday that the 2026 tax filing season will begin Jan. 26, with taxpayers due to submit their 2025 returns and pay any taxes owed by April 15. The agency expects to receive roughly 164 million individual income tax returns this year, most of them filed electronically.
Several new provisions from the recently enacted One, Big, Beautiful Bill are now in effect, potentially impacting federal taxes, credits and deductions. Taxpayers can use IRS.gov for a variety of tools and resources, including individual online accounts to check balances, payments, and tax records, as well as guidance on new forms such as Schedule 1-A and digital asset reporting with Form 1099-DA.
The IRS also recommends taxpayers set up bank accounts to receive refunds via direct deposit, as paper refund checks are being phased out under the Modernizing Payments executive order. Additional options include IRS Free File and Fillable Forms for self-preparing returns, MilTax software for military members and some veterans, and volunteer programs such as VITA and TCE for no-cost basic tax preparation.
Acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent said the agency has updated forms and processes to reflect the new law and help Americans take full advantage of the tax changes. IRS CEO Frank Bisignano emphasized the workforce is ready to assist taxpayers, while the agency also urges caution against scams and encourages choosing reputable tax preparers.
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