Early birds can begin filing their taxes on Jan. 26 this year

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FATIMA HUSSEIN

Thu, January 8, 2026 astatine 10:26 AM CST 2 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jan. 26 marks the authoritative commencement day of the 2026 taxation filing season, erstwhile the IRS volition statesman accepting and processing 2025 taxation returns. April 15 is the filing deadline.

Tax experts, including the IRS’ autarkic watchdog, person warned that this year's filing play could beryllium hampered by the nonaccomplishment of tens of thousands of taxation postulation workers who near the bureau done planned layoffs and buyouts spurred by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency.

The IRS volition besides beryllium liable for implementing large provisions of Republicans' tax and spending bundle signed into instrumentality past summer. Several provisions successful the instrumentality retroactively impact the 2025 taxation year, apt starring to much questions from taxpayers and requiring the IRS to update taxation forms.

“President Trump is committed to the taxpayers of this state and improving upon the palmy taxation filing play successful 2025,” said acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent successful a quality release. “I americium assured successful our quality to present results and thrust maturation for businesses and consumers alike.”

The IRS expects to person astir 164 cardinal idiosyncratic income taxation returns this year, which is connected par with what it received past year.

The latest National Taxpayer Advocate study to Congress published successful June states that the IRS workforce has fallen from 102,113 workers astatine the extremity of the Biden medication to 75,702. The IRS website does not see the latest employment numbers connected the agency’s workforce.

IRS employees progressive successful past year's taxation play were not allowed to judge a buyout connection from the Trump medication until aft the payer filing deadline of April 15, 2025.

The June National Taxpayer Advocate study to Congress warned that the 2026 play could beryllium rocky.

“With the IRS workforce reduced by 26% and important taxation instrumentality changes connected the horizon, determination are risks to adjacent year’s filing season,” said Erin M. Collins, who leads the enactment assigned to support taxpayers’ rights.