The IRS announced that the 2026 tax filing season, for filing 2025 tax returns, officially opens on Monday, January 26, 2026. The agency will begin accepting and processing electronic returns on that date, with the deadline for most taxpayers to file and pay any owed taxes being April 15, 2026.
The IRS will begin accepting e-filed Tax Year 2025 returns that include Form 4136, Credit for Federal Tax Paid on Fuels, on February 15, 2026. Only Tax Year 2025 returns that include Form 4136 are affected by this timing. If your return includes this form, it cannot be e-filed before February 15, 2026.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes has decided to further extend the due date for filing these ITRs for AY 2025-26 from 15 September 2025 to 16 September 2025 and ITR filing last date for FY 2025-26 (AY 2026-27) is Friday, 31 July 2026.
How early can you start filing taxes? As soon as you're ready! The IRS begins accepting and processing tax returns in late January of the year following the tax year. So if you are filing your 2025 tax return, IRS will start accepting and processing your tax returns in late January 2026.
Effective 2025 through 2028, individuals age 65 and older may claim an additional $6,000 deduction. This is in addition to the standard deduction for seniors available under existing law. Applies per eligible individual (or $12,000 for a married couple if both spouses qualify).
You may be eligible for a California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) up to $3,756 for tax year 2025 as a working family or individual earning up to $32,900 per year. You must claim the credit on the 2025 FTB 3514 form, California Earned Income Tax Credit, or if you e-file follow your software's instructions.
Frequently asked questions about filing taxes early
The IRS should start processing 2025 tax returns in late January 2026. How early can I file my taxes? You can file 2025 taxes as soon as you receive your 2025 tax documents such as a W-2 or 1099 Form, typically in late January 2026.
Here's a summary of key changes for the 2025 tax year. The seven federal tax brackets (10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, 37%) are now permanent. Standard deductions increased, plus a new “bonus” deduction for older adults. Child tax credit increased to $2,200 per qualifying child.
Consequently, the specified date for furnishing of report of audit under the provisions of the Act for the Previous Year 2024-25 (Assessment Year 2025-26) shall stand extended to 10th November, 2025 in terms of clause (ii) of Explanation to section 44AB of the Income-tax Act,1961.
The 2025 Filing Season for individuals opens on 7 July 2025 and covers these major dates: Auto Assessment notices: 7 July 2025 to 20 July 2025. Individual taxpayers: 21July 2025 to 20 October 2025. Provisional taxpayers: 21 July 2025 to 19 January 2026.
The IRS generally starts depositing refunds in late January, with most electronic returns processed within 21 days, especially with direct deposit; however, refunds claiming Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) are delayed until mid-February due to the PATH Act, and processing can take longer for errors, identity issues, or incomplete returns, but you can track yours with the "Where's My Refund?" tool on IRS.gov.
You likely received $1400 from the IRS today as a supplemental payment for the 2021 Economic Impact Payment (EIP3), specifically the Recovery Rebate Credit, for people who missed it by not claiming it or leaving it blank on their 2021 tax return. These are "plus-up" payments for those eligible for the third stimulus but didn't get the full amount, often for dependents or due to income changes, with a deadline to claim it by April 2025 by filing a 2021 return if you hadn't already.
For vehicles acquired on or before Sept. 30, 2025, if you buy a qualified used electric vehicle (EV) or fuel cell vehicle (FCV) from a licensed dealer for $25,000 or less, you may be eligible for a used clean vehicle tax credit. The credit equals 30% of the sale price up to a maximum credit of $4,000.
The $4,000 federal tax credit refers to the Used Clean Vehicle Credit, available for purchasing a qualified pre-owned electric or fuel cell vehicle, equal to 30% of the sale price (up to $4,000) but subject to income limits and vehicle requirements (like model year and purchase price). This credit, established by the Inflation Reduction Act, helps lower your tax bill, not just your taxable income, and requires dealer participation for reporting the sale to the IRS.
The IRS "10k rule" primarily refers to the requirement for businesses and financial institutions to report cash transactions over $10,000 by filing Form 8300 (for businesses) or a Currency Transaction Report (CTR) (for banks), under the Bank Secrecy Act. This rule helps combat money laundering, tax evasion, and terrorist financing, requiring reporting for single transactions or related transactions totaling over $10,000 in cash within a year, with penalties for non-compliance.
To avoid the 22% tax bracket (or any higher bracket), focus on reducing your taxable income through strategies like maxing out 401(k)s and HSAs, deferring bonuses, tax-loss harvesting, smart charitable giving, and strategic asset location, understanding that higher rates only apply to income within that bracket, not your entire income.
For the 2025 tax year, the standard deductions are: $15,750 for Single/Married Filing Separately, $31,500 for Married Filing Jointly/Qualifying Surviving Spouse, and $23,625 for Head of Household, with additional amounts available for seniors (65+) and the blind, plus new rules for SALT deductions, per the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB).
For U.S. federal taxes, the main e-filing deadline for Tax Year 2025 returns is generally April 15, 2026, but the IRS closes for the year on December 26, 2025, so you must file by then or request an extension (Form 4868) for an October 15, 2026, filing deadline, paying any taxes due by April 15, 2026, to avoid penalties. Deadlines shift if April 15 falls on a weekend/holiday; for 2025, the individual e-file period for Tax Year 2024 (filed in 2025) closed in late December 2025, while the Tax Year 2025 filing season for most returns began in late January 2026, with the main deadline in April 2026.