When does tax season start? What we know as of October 2026
The 2026 filing season opened January 26, 2026. The 2027 date is not announced as of October 2026. Recent opening dates, free filing options, how to prepare.
Prepared by Prem Tax and Accounting Corp. Last checked against official sources on October 24, 2026.
The 2026 filing season opened on Monday, January 26, 2026, when the IRS began accepting 2025 returns. As of October 24, 2026 the IRS has not announced the 2027 date. In recent years it announced the start in early January, and e-filing opened between January 23 and January 29.
- The IRS announced the 2026 start on January 8, 2026 and the 2025 start on January 10, 2025, so early January is a fair expectation, not a promise.
- You do not need the IRS date to get ready. Start gathering documents now.
- IRS Free File closed for the season on October 15, 2026. For 2025 returns, guided Free File software was limited to adjusted gross income of $89,000, and Fillable Forms had no income limit.
- Direct File: Treasury's October 2025 report said the IRS would suspend it, and the IRS's 2026 season announcements list Free File, Fillable Forms, volunteer help and MilTax instead. We found no official word on 2027.
Recent opening dates
| Filing season | IRS e-file opened |
|---|---|
| 2023 (tax year 2022) | Jan 23, 2023 |
| 2024 (tax year 2023) | Jan 29, 2024 |
| 2025 (tax year 2024) | Jan 27, 2025 |
| 2026 (tax year 2025) | Jan 26, 2026 |
| 2027 (tax year 2026) | Not announced as of October 24, 2026 |
Get ready now
- Gather last year's return, photo ID, and Social Security numbers or ITINs for everyone on the return.
- List life changes: a new job, marriage, a baby, a home sale, a move, or crypto and brokerage sales.
- Expect W-2s by early February (the due date is February 1, 2027) and brokerage or crypto statements in mid-February (February 16, 2027 by our calendar math).
- Check your withholding with the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator before the year ends.
What we do not know yet
The IRS has not said the exact 2027 opening date, when Free File reopens, or whether an IRS-run filing program returns. This page will be updated when the IRS announces them. Meanwhile the tax calendar shows the dates that are fixed.
Common questions
When will the IRS announce the 2027 season?
As of October 24, 2026 it has not. The last two announcements came on January 10, 2025 and January 8, 2026, so early January is a reasonable expectation, not a promise.
Is IRS Direct File coming back?
We could not find an official IRS statement about 2027. Treasury's October 2025 report said the IRS would suspend the program, so we would not plan around it.
Who can use Free File and Fillable Forms?
For 2025 returns, guided Free File software was limited to adjusted gross income of $89,000 or less. Fillable Forms, electronic IRS forms, were open to any income. Free File closed on October 15, 2026, and the IRS has not yet said when it reopens.
Official sources
- IRS: Announces first day of 2026 filing season
- IRS: News releases for January 2025
- IRS: Filing season statistics by year
- IRS: Free File, do your federal taxes for free
- U.S. Treasury: Report on the replacement of Direct File (October 2, 2025)
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