Updated: Nov. 8, 2025
The upcoming income tax filing season is still two months away, but there are so many questions and uncertainties, that right now, the one thing we know is that things will change.
With new tax laws under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, President Trump’s broad law that passed in July 2025, to the government shutdown. From changes to how (or if) some people will be taxed on tip income, to tariff challenges, to a likely increase in new forms for the new year.
- If you just want to jump to the Tax Refund Chart below, click here or scroll down.
CPA Practice Advisor has been producing this handy, “When will I get my income tax refund” chart since 2014. In that time, the country has gone through three presidents, numerous tax law changes, several government shutdowns, and the Covid pandemic in 2020 that caused the most dramatic changes to the income tax filing calendar than ever before. In that year, the tax deadline was pushed back several times, mostly due to closures of government offices, but also because of new work-from-home conditions that became more prevalent.
For the tax filing season in 2026, no major changes to the calendar are expected. But several significant changes may affect some taxpayers this year, including those with car loans, retirees, no tax on overtime and tips for some workers, an increase int he child tax credit, and many other deductions and credits. Also, the IRS says it will no longer issues paper refund checks – Direct Deposit is a must. For users without a traditional bank account, several prepaid debit cards are available on the market, but watch out for fees.
Will 2026 Income Tax Refunds be Higher?
It’s no secret that many Americans dislike the IRS and bemoan taxes, but many millions actually look forward to getting a tax refund, and start thinking of how they will spend it. Perhaps take an overdue vacation? Or maybe just pay off bills? The good news is that, in 2026, many might see a higher income tax refund because of some of the new deductions and credits, and also due to late changes in income tax withholding, which might mean that some employers withheld a little too much this year.
First, keep in mind that the IRS usually starts accepting e-filed income tax returns in the last week of January each year, with the deadline to file returns being April 15 (which sometimes varies based on weekends or holidays).
When to Expect 2026 Income Tax Refunds
If you’re wondering how long it may take to get your refund when you finally submit your income tax return, you’re not alone. In fact, for almost 15 years, the question we get the most often has been: “When will I get my tax refund?” Nobody can give you an exact answer, especially this far out, but we can give you a pretty good estimate based on a few factors, and the collective experience of the CPA Practice Advisor team.
If you just want to jump to the Tax Refund Chart below, click here or scroll down.
Short Answer: Depending on when taxpayers file their returns, they can often receive their federal tax refund payment (check or direct deposit) within 10-21 days. If the IRS starts accepting returns at the end of January, as is usual, that means that someone who is able to file right away and are a due a refund, can often see the refund as early as mid- or late February if they have it direct deposited. That’s without an expensive “tax refund loan” or other similar product.
However: With many new tax deductions and credits, some of which require the IRS and tax software makers to create new forms and updates to software, there could be a slight delay to the start of tax season. This is not uncommon, and usually only affects the start of filing season and the beginning of tax refunds by a week or two.
Related: NATP Says IRS Shutdown Could Paralyze 2026 Tax Season, Swift Congressional Action Needed
Related: IRS to End Free File Program in 2026
If you have multiple forms of income or certain assets, or certain family situations, you will likely have to wait a bit longer for all of your tax documents to come in before you are able to file. In particular, taxpayers with the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and a few other credits generally have their refunds delayed by about one month while the IRS confirms eligibility for these credits.
- If you just want to jump to the Tax Refund Chart below, click here or scroll down.
So, here’s the chart you were looking for. If the IRS announces any changes to tax law or potential date changes, we will update this chart. And remember: This is only an estimate of when to expect your refund.
Do not take these dates as exact predictions, as all taxpayers have different tax returns, documents, incomes, and other situations. Note that the first column is when the IRS “accepts” your return, which can be 2-3 days after the day you submitted it electronically, and the IRS will notify you of the actual date on which the agency “accepted” your return. Mailing in a paper return can result in 3-4 weeks’ extra delay at the beginning of the process, since the IRS will need to enter it into their computer systems manually.
Estimated 2026 IRS Income Tax Return Chart
| If the IRS Accepts an E-Filed Return By: | Then Direct Deposit refund may be received as early as 10 business days after e-file accepted. (The IRS has said that paper checks will no longer be issued for tax refunds.) |
|---|---|
| * IRS may start accepting returns as early as Jan. 26, 2026. | May receive refund as early as: |
| *Jan. 26, 2026 | Feb. 6, 2026 * |
| Feb. 2 | Feb. 13 * |
| Feb. 9 | Feb. 20 ** |
| Feb. 16 | Feb. 27** |
| Feb. 23 | Mar. 6 |
| Mar. 2 | Mar. 13 |
| Mar. 9 | Mar. 20 |
| Mar. 16 | Mar. 27 |
| Mar. 23*** | Apr. 3 *** |
| Mar. 30*** | Apr. 10 *** |
| Apr. 6 *** | Apr. 17 *** |
| Apr. 13*** | Apr. 24 *** |
* = Estimated date the IRS may start accepting e-filed tax returns.
** = Returns with EITC or CTC may have refunds delayed until March to verify credits.
*** = Filing during peak season (late March through April 15) can result in slightly longer waits.
| After Deadline: IRS Accepts Return By: | Direct Deposit Sent Date (The IRS has said that paper checks will no longer be issued for tax refunds.) |
|---|---|
| Apr. 20 | May 1 |
| Apr. 27 | May 8 |
| May 4 | May 15 |
| May 11 | May 22 |
| May 18 | May 29 |
If your IRS income tax refund is delayed after you’ve filed, ask your tax professional, or simply use the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on the IRS website to check the status of your refund. Or you can download the IRS2Go app (Apple and Android) to check your refund status. It’s a good idea to e-file your tax return as soon as you have all of your tax documents (like your W2, 1099s, mortgage and student loan interest, and other items) as e-filing generally ensures a faster turnaround time.
Several factors can determine when a taxpayer might receive his or her tax refund, including:
- How early the return is filed;
- If the taxpayer is claiming certain credits (especially EITC and CTC);
- Whether the return is e-filed or sent by mail;
- Whether the taxpayer has existing debts to the federal government.
Be Safe – Hire a Professional
Taxpayers who use a professional, such as a CPA or EA, can ask that professional for the estimated date of their tax refund, and they can be more confident that their taxes have been properly (and legally) filed. If you’ve had major income changes this year, had a child, got married or divorced, retired, bought a house, or changed investments, or made any other significant life changes, you should definitely seek the advice of a tax professional in order to make sure you are taking advantage of new or lesser known tax deductions and credits that could benefit you.
What If You Can’t File Your Income Taxes By April 15?
Any taxpayer who can’t file their return by April 15 for any reason (such as they don’t have all of the paperwork needed in order to file their taxes) can easily file an extension form, “Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.” (Link to IRS Form 4868.)
Any tax pro can help you with this extension, as well. This will give the taxpayer until October 15, 2026, to file the federal tax return. No reason or excuse is needed to receive this extension, and as the title states, it is automatically granted. Be sure to check the extension rules for your particular state as the extension date may differ from the date for the federal return extension.
Note that if a person will owe taxes with the tax return, it is still that taxpayer’s obligation to pay those taxes by April 15, 2026, even if an extension to file has been requested. A tax professional can assist with this payment process. Those who are due a refund generally only need to file the extension request by April 15, 2026. Any tax professional and most do-it-yourself tax programs can perform this task.
Last Minute Tax Tips for the End of 2025:
- 5 Year-End Tax Planning Moves (From Fidelity Investments)
- 4 Last-Minute Ways to Reduce Your Taxes (From Intuit TurboTax)
Tax Refund Estimators:
- https://www.hrblock.com/tax-calculator/?srsltid=AfmBOoq69SBsAYE08sOIApgSqwC1db4nvik5MgzSjlyGurTaaZ0r_ZBi
- https://www.nerdwallet.com/taxes/calculators/tax-calculator
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