When will the IRS Accept my 2026 Tax Return? Refund Timeline & Other Details!

The IRS announced the 2026 tax season for the 2025 tax year and started accepting the return from 26 January 2026. Taxpayers who have been waiting and preparing for filing the tax returns should file their taxes. This tax year has many changes introduced that can affect your taxes, learn about everything here. 

What is the IRS 2026 tax season timeline?

The IRS has officially announced the opening of the 2026 tax season on Monday, 26 January 2026. The agency has started accepting the federal individual income tax returns for the 2025 tax year and processing them. 

The agency expects around 164 million individuals to participate in this tax season before the deadline. This year, the IRS celebrates the 40th anniversary of electronic filing with the 250th anniversary of America. Taxpayers who are preparing for tax season should be aware of the full timeline of the tax season from the table below:

What are the key changes for the IRS 2026 tax season?

The IRS has made the annual inflation adjustment for the 2025 tax year return, but the federal government has also made changes through the new bill, One Big Beautiful Bill. With the changes, taxpayers should be aware of these changes as they can affect their taxes and increase their tax refund or reduce their taxes. 

SSI March 2026 Payment Date: When Will You Get This Payout?

Here, before you file your tax return, you must be aware of the following changes made by the new bill:

• Increased standard deduction: The new bill increased the standard deduction to $15750 for single filers and $31,500 for married filing jointly,  and $23,625 for head of households. 
• Additional deduction for seniors: The new bill offers a tax deduction of up to $6000 for elderly aged 65 or above if the gross income does not exceed $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for joint filers.
• No taxes on tips/overtime/ and car loan interest: The new bill announced no tax on tips/overtime and paid car loan interest, and offers maximum deduction of the following:

• The new bill increased the child tax credit to $2200 per qualifying child, but the refundable portion remains the same, $1700 per child. 
• The adoption tax credit allows the refundable portion of the credit, boosting your refund. You can claim up to $5000 of adoption credit if the credit reduces the tax liability to zero.
• The new bill eliminated the clean vehicle credits for vehicles acquired after 30 September 2025. This will affect the New Clean Vehicle credit, Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit, and Used Clean Vehicle Credit.

What should you do for the smooth tax filing in 2026?

Due to changes brought through the new bill and other orders, the IRS has introduced the following changes to the tax filing that you should be aware of to take the respective action, and for smooth tax filing:

• First, you should check if you qualify for new deductions or tax credits in the 2025 tax year, affecting your tax returns and refund. 
• You should check the Individual Online account to review your past tax records, payments, and others.
• The IRS has introduced the New Schedule 1-A for the new tax deductions implemented, such as no tax on tips/overtime/car loan interest paid, and the additional deduction for seniors. So, if you qualified for any of these deductions and credits, you should claim them accordingly on your tax return. 
• The IRS has phased out the paper check refund as of 30 September 2025 under the Executive Order from the government. Hence, you should file your return with bank account information, and if you don’t have a bank account, make sure to open one to avoid any issues in your tax refund processing. 
• If you receive any income from online marketplaces or any third-party network, you must file the Form 1099-K.
• You must obtain Form W-2 from your employer and obtain information about your withheld taxes, salary, and other information. 

When can you expect the IRS 2026 refunds?

The IRS is following no paper check refund and urges the taxpayers to go for direct deposit on their filed returns. Although in some cases, they may issue a paper check, for now, every taxpayer is encouraged to go for the direct deposit. 

The direct deposit will benefit the taxpayers only, as they can receive their refund within 21 days of e-filing. However, returns with EITC/ACTC claim will have to wait till PATH Act restriction is lifted and expect the payment by 03 March 2026. 

PATH Act Refund Delay 2026: EITC and ACTC Refund Dates and Status!

Taxpayers can easily track their tax refund through the IRS tool – Where’s My Refund and estimate the payment date. The tax season has officially begun; you must file on time to get your return accepted and complete your responsibility.