01/12/2026
Key Dates for the 2026 Tax Season
January 13, 2026, at 9am ET the IRS will begin accepting most business tax returns for the 2025 tax filing year.
January 26, 2026: The official start of the personal tax return 2026 tax season. The IRS will begin processing all individual 2025 tax returns submitted electronically or by mail. The IRS strongly recommends electronic filing and electronic payment to the IRS.
THE IRS IS ONLY ISSUING REFUNDS VIA ELECTRONIC DEPOSITS INTO A CHECKING OR SAVINGS ACCOUNT STARTING 9/30/2025. (Mandate: The shift to electronic payments was mandated by Executive Order 14247, signed in March 2025, which requires all federal agencies to cease issuing paper checks (to the extent permitted by law) to improve security, speed, and efficiency.)
January 31, 2026: The deadline for employers and financial institutions to furnish Forms W-2, 1099s, and other information returns to taxpayers.
March 16, 2026, as March 15 falls on a Sunday. Pass-through entities (Partnerships and S Corporations)
April 15, 2026. C Corporations: The general deadline for calendar-year filers is April 15, 2026.
April 15, 2026: The deadline for most taxpayers to file their federal income tax returns and pay any taxes owed.
Extensions: An extension to file (usually six months) can be requested using Form 7004,
BUT THIS DOES NOT EXTEEND THE TIME TO PAY THE TAX A TAXPAYER OWES THE IRS.
Payments must still be made by the original due date to avoid penalties and interest.
September 15, 2026: The deadline for those who requested an extension to file their completed Form 1120-S Corporate or Form 1065 Partnership/Multi-Member LLC tax returns.
October 15, 2026: The deadline for those who requested an extension to file their completed return (note: payment of taxes owed was still due by April 15).