01/10/2026
🟢 IRS Filing Season Opens:
• The IRS officially begins accepting 2025 tax returns on Monday, January 26, 2026. That’s when e-file and paper returns start being processed.
🔵 Refund Timing:
• Once the IRS accepts your tax return, most direct deposit refunds take about 10–21 business days to post, depending on processing and bank timing.
• For returns accepted Jan 26, estimates put the earliest refunds around early February (around Feb 6–11) for straightforward filings with no issues.
📌 About “First Batch” Refunds-Feb 22
• Under current rules (like the PATH Act), the IRS must delay refunds involving the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC) until at least mid-February. In practice, with weekends/holidays and processing delays, many of those refunds arrive around late Feb — approximately Feb 22 or later.
🧠 Key Points to Know
• You can prepare and file before Jan 26 with most tax software, but the IRS won’t officially accept or process them until Jan 26.
• Direct deposit is now the primary/only refund method — paper checks are being phased out.
• Refunds vary by individual facts (credits claimed, errors, IRS processing speed), so there’s no single “first” refund date guaranteed for everyone.
• Using the IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tool after filing gives the most accurate arrival estimates.
