Summary
The IRS announced the 2026 tax filing season will start on January 26, 2026. New tax laws from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could lead to larger tax refunds for many Americans, ranging from $300 to $1,000 more than usual.
Key Facts
- The 2026 tax filing season opens on January 26, 2026, and ends on April 15, 2026.
- The IRS expects around 164 million individual tax returns, mostly filed electronically.
- The One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed by President Trump and includes new tax breaks.
- The standard deduction has been permanently doubled.
- The cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions has temporarily increased to $40,000.
- Seniors 65 and older can get an extra deduction of up to $12,000 for joint filers.
- There are new deductions for tips, overtime pay, and car loan interest.
- Most taxpayers will need to use a new Schedule 1-A form to claim these deductions.
