The 2026 tax filing season starts on Jan. 26, which marks the first day the IRS will accept and process individual tax returns for 2025. Most taxpayers must file federal returns and pay taxes owed by April 15 to avoid penalties and interest.

The Internal Revenue Service announced on Jan. 8 that the nation’s 2026 tax filing season will open Monday, Jan. 26, giving taxpayers until Wednesday, April 15, 2026, to file their 2025 income tax ret...