Overview
- The IRS will begin accepting 2025 returns on Jan. 26, with federal filing and payment due on April 15, 2026.
- The agency says its systems are ready to implement major provisions of the Republican tax package that significantly affect deductions, credits and liabilities.
- Employers must furnish W-2 forms to workers by Jan. 31, and those details are needed to file federal and state returns.
- The IRS urges direct deposit as paper refund checks are being phased out under a 2025 executive order; e-filed returns with direct deposit typically receive refunds in under 21 days, while mailed refunds can take six weeks or longer.
- Independent watchdogs report IRS staffing has fallen from about 102,113 to 75,702 and warn that cuts of 17%–19% in key functions could slow processing and customer service in 2026.