WASHINGTON, Jan 22, 2026, 05:45 (EST)
- The IRS kicks off the 2026 filing season on Jan. 26 for 2025 federal tax returns, with the deadline set for April 15.
- The agency is moving refunds from paper checks to electronic payments, allowing only a few exceptions.
- By Feb. 2, most W-2s and a large number of 1099 forms must reach taxpayers, marking a key deadline for those filing early.
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service plans to kick off the 2026 tax filing season on Jan. 26, aiming to shift refunds from paper checks to electronic payments.
The timing is crucial since the opening day comes before many taxpayers have received all their income documents, and the IRS is also cracking down on refund payments. Even minor errors — a missing W-2 or an incorrect account number — can delay refunds by weeks.
This filing season marks the debut of 2025 returns under President Donald Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act. The legislation introduced new deductions and credits that may shift both tax liabilities and refunds.
The Treasury and IRS will start phasing out paper refund checks for individual taxpayers after Sept. 30, 2025, pointing to cost savings and fraud concerns. According to the IRS, refunds filed electronically with direct deposit usually hit accounts in under 21 days, whereas paper checks can drag on for six weeks or more. 1
A March 2025 executive order instructed the Treasury to halt issuing paper checks for the majority of federal payments, including tax refunds. It carved out limited exceptions for those without access to banking or digital payment methods. The directive pushes agencies to rely more on direct deposit, prepaid cards, and other digital payment options. 2
Taxpayers face an early hurdle with paperwork. The IRS requires employers to provide Form W-2 wage statements—the yearly summary of pay and withholding—by Feb. 2, 2026, since Jan. 31 lands on a Saturday. 3
Many 1099 forms — which report non-wage income like contractor pay, interest, or dividends — are typically sent out by early February. However, some types have later deadlines. The IRS notes that statements for several brokerage-style 1099 forms must be filed by Feb. 17, 2026. 4
Forbes highlighted the looming bottleneck this week, warning readers to brace for a surge of W-2 and 1099 forms as the January 26 filing window opens. They urged quick action if any documents fail to show up. 5
If a W-2 or 1099 is missing or incorrect, the IRS advises taxpayers to reach out to the employer or payer first to get a corrected copy. If the form still doesn’t arrive in time to file, the IRS says they can file using Form 4852, which acts as a substitute based on estimates from pay stubs and other records. 6
Tax preparers and analysts warn the new law complicates things further. “Tax season 2026 brings some of the most significant tax code changes we’ve seen in years,” said Carl Breedlove, principal tax research analyst at H&R Block’s Tax Institute, according to the Dayton Daily News. Alex Muresianu, an analyst at the Tax Foundation, noted that refund impacts could range widely: “It could be a very small change or it might be significant.” 7
The IRS is pushing a message of readiness. “IRS information systems have been updated to incorporate the new tax laws and are ready to … process taxpayer returns,” said IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano in a Jan. 8 statement. The announcement also introduced a new Schedule 1-A covering deductions related to tips, overtime pay, car-loan interest, and an expanded senior deduction. 8
Refund tracking stays much the same. According to the IRS, “Where’s My Refund?” usually displays status roughly 24 hours after you e-file your current-year return. The agency updates the tool once daily, typically overnight, guiding filers through the stages “received,” “approved,” and “sent.” 9
But the new deductions might not match up with the usual documents taxpayers expect. The IRS has announced that tax-year 2025 Forms W-2 and many 1099s won’t reflect updated reporting details for tips and overtime. Employers will get a transition period, which could force some workers to sift through pay stubs or employer portals to claim the benefits. This mismatch raises the chances of errors on returns and possible delays in refunds. 10
Most filers have a straightforward to-do list: await your forms, file electronically if possible, and confirm your refund delivery information before hitting “submit.” The days of simply requesting a mailed check are fading fast.
