WASHINGTON, Jan 14, 2026, 06:15 (EST)
- Jan. 15 is the deadline for the final 2025 estimated tax payment, the IRS tax calendar shows.
- The IRS will open the 2026 filing season on Jan. 26 for 2025 returns and expects about 164 million filings.
- IRS inflation adjustments lift the 2026 standard deduction to $16,100 for single filers; the 37% bracket starts at $640,600.
The IRS’ Taxpayer Advocate Service this week urged people with substantial non-wage income to keep up with estimated tax payments, as a Jan. 15 deadline nears for the final installment tied to 2025 income. It said individuals who expect to owe $1,000 or more when they file generally must pay quarterly, with 2026 tax-year due dates of April 15, June 15, Sept. 15 and Jan. 15, 2027; corporations generally must pay if they expect to owe $500 or more.
The timing matters because the IRS has set Jan. 26 as the opening of the nation’s 2026 filing season, when it will begin accepting 2025 tax returns. Taxpayers have until April 15 to file and pay any tax due, and the IRS expects about 164 million individual returns, with most filed electronically.
It is also the first full season under provisions of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, which the IRS says could affect taxes, credits and deductions. Acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent said the administration was “committed to the taxpayers of this country,” while IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank Bisignano said the agency was “ready to help taxpayers meet” their filing and payment obligations.
The IRS is urging filers to set up an online account and use direct deposit for refunds, as it phases out paper refund checks under an executive order on modernising federal payments. In a Jan. 6 notice, the agency also pointed taxpayers to new deductions and credits that may cut tax bills or increase refunds, and flagged new “Trump Accounts” for children under 18 with a valid Social Security number. https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/prepare-to-fi…
For low- and moderate-income filers, the IRS said its Free File program is already accepting returns, letting eligible taxpayers prepare now and hold returns for electronic filing once the season officially starts. Eight private-sector partners are offering guided software to taxpayers with adjusted gross income (AGI) of $89,000 or less in 2025; people above that can use Free File Fillable Forms starting Jan. 26, the agency said.
Looking beyond this filing season, the IRS has also set inflation adjustments for tax year 2026 — the brackets and standard deduction that generally apply to returns filed in 2027. The standard deduction rises to $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for married couples filing jointly, while the 37% marginal rate applies above $640,600 for single filers and $768,700 for joint filers.
That same law also created new deductions that run from 2025 through 2028, including a deduction for qualified tips capped at $25,000 and a deduction for qualified overtime capped at $12,500 ($25,000 for joint filers), with both phasing out above modified adjusted gross income of $150,000 ($300,000 for joint filers), the IRS said. It also set a car-loan interest deduction capped at $10,000, phasing out above $100,000 of modified adjusted gross income ($200,000 for joint filers), and an extra $6,000 senior deduction for those 65 and older, subject to income phaseouts.
Taxpayers may see more paperwork this year as the IRS rolls out a new Schedule 1-A to claim deductions such as “no tax on tips,” “no tax on overtime,” car-loan interest and the senior deduction. The agency has also told taxpayers to watch for Form 1099-K for some payment-app and marketplace income and Form 1099-DA for digital asset proceeds, and to report taxable income even if no form arrives.
But missing an estimated tax deadline can still sting. The IRS says underpayment penalties can apply “even if you’re due a refund” when you file, and it lays out quarterly due dates tied to four payment periods; if a due date falls on a weekend or holiday, paying on the next business day counts as on time. https://www.irs.gov/faqs/estimated-tax
Deadlines can also move in disaster zones. In Washington state, the IRS said taxpayers in designated counties have until May 1, 2026, to meet a range of federal filing and payment deadlines, including estimated payments normally due Jan. 15 and April 15.
For most taxpayers, the next dates on the calendar are close: Jan. 15 for the final 2025 estimated payment, Jan. 26 for the filing season opening, and April 15 for the deadline to file and pay 2025 taxes. The IRS has urged taxpayers to gather documents early, use online tools and keep bank details current to avoid delays.
