The Internal Revenue Service has announced the first day of the 2026 filing season, with the agency saying several new tax law provisions could “help lower tax bills and potentially increase refund amounts,” but new changes could also mean a major shift on how refunds are delivered.
According to a press release from the agency, the IRS expected to receive about 164 million individual tax income returns this year, with most taxpayers filing electronically.
As the first day of tax season approaches, here’s what to know.
When is the first day you can file taxes for 2026?
The first day you can file your 2025 tax return is Monday, Jan. 26, the IRS announced in a release dated Jan. 8.
Taxpayers have until Wednesday, April 15, 2026 to file their 2025 returns and pay any taxes due.
Tax law changes for 2026
For the 2026 tax season, the IRS will be implementing major provisions of Republicans’ tax and spending package package, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” signed into law last summer.
According to the IRS, the act will “significantly affects federal taxes, credits and deductions.”
Some standard tax deductions will increase as part of the new bill. Adoption credits also increased, along with an estate tax exclusion, the IRS said. Some senior could also claim a higher deduction, the new provisions state. The act also eliminated tax on tips, overtime and car loan interest.
According to the bill, the Child Tax Credit for 2025 increased slightly, to $2,200 per child, up from $2,000, an H&R Block breakdown says.
The new provisions also stripped taxpayers the opportunity to earn credits from making their homes more energy efficient, or buying electric vehicles.
What are “Trump Accounts”?
“Trump Accounts” are a new retirement savings avenue for anyone under 18 years old with a valid social security number. Parents, guardians and other authorized individuals can open the accounts.
A pilot program contribution of $1,000 will be available for children who are citizens and born between the start of 2025 and end of 2028. Additional information is available here.
Changes to how you will get your refund
The IRS urged taxpayers to receive their refund via direct deposit to a bank account, “because the IRS is phasing out paper tax refund checks.” The phase-out comes as part of an executive order issued in March of 2025 by President Donald Trump.
According to a release issued by the IRS last September, “most refunds will be delivered by direct deposit or other secure electronic methods” as part of the change.
“Most individual taxpayers already receive their refunds by direct deposit into their bank accounts,” the IRS said. “During the 2025 tax filing season, the IRS issued more than 93.5 million tax refunds to individual income tax filers, and 93% of those, almost 87 million refunds, were issued through direct deposit. Only 7 percent of individual refund recipients received their refunds by check through the mail.”
How long do tax refunds take?
According to the IRS, refunds are “issued in less than 21 days if filing electronically,” choosing direct deposit. Non-electronic payments may take 6 weeks or longer for refunds sent by mail.
Tax experts however, including the IRS’ independent watchdog, have warned that this year’s filing season could be hampered by the loss of tens of thousands of tax collection workers who left the agency through planned layoffs and buyouts spurred by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano, who was named to the new role in October, said “the IRS workforce remains vigilant and dedicated to their mission to serve the American taxpaying public. At the same time, IRS information systems have been updated to incorporate the new tax laws and are ready to efficiently and effectively process taxpayer returns during the filing season.”
Bisignano is also commissioner of the Social Security Administration.
The latest National Taxpayer Advocate report to Congress published in June states that the IRS workforce has fallen from 102,113 workers at the end of the Biden administration to 75,702. The IRS website does not include the latest employment numbers on the agency’s workforce.
The June National Taxpayer Advocate report to Congress warned that the 2026 season could be rocky.
“With the IRS workforce reduced by 26% and significant tax law changes on the horizon, there are risks to next year’s filing season,” said Erin M. Collins, who leads the organization assigned to protect taxpayers’ rights
How much could your refund be?
The average refund amount was $3,167, according to IRS data. Bessent has said on several occasions that the effects of Republican tax law will result in bigger tax refunds in 2026.
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