The IRS on Thursday announced the start date for the 2026 tax filing season later this month, when taxpayers will be able to start filing their returns for the past year. Taxpayers may begin filing their 2025 tax returns on Monday, Jan. 26, the IRS announced. That will give taxpayers more than two months to file their returns ahead of the Wednesday, April 15 deadline to file or request an extension until the fall. The IRS Free File program will start accepting individual tax returns on Friday, Jan. 9 fo ...