# Tax season 2027 start date: when the IRS is expected to open filing Source: https://taxrefunddesk.com/refund-timelines/tax-season-start-date Publisher: Tax Refund Desk (taxrefunddesk.com), independent editorial site Topic: Refund Timelines Last updated: 2026-10-20 > The tax season 2027 start date is not announced yet, but if the IRS follows its last three seasons it will begin accepting tax year 2026 returns on Monday, January 25, 2027, a projection only. The IRS usually confirms the date in early January. The first refunds for clean e-filed returns would follow about three weeks after opening, and the filing deadline is Thursday, April 15, 2027. ## Key facts - 2027 opening day: Not yet announced - Usual announcement: Early January (January 8 in 2024 and 2026) - Projected opening: Monday, January 25, 2027 (projection) - Filing deadline: Thursday, April 15, 2027 - Extension deadline: October 15, 2027 with Form 4868 ## Tax season 2027 start date: announced vs expected There is no official tax season 2027 start date yet. The IRS sets the opening day each year and normally announces it in early January. For the 2024 and 2026 seasons, that announcement came on January 8. What we can say with confidence is the pattern. The IRS opened on Monday, January 29, 2024, Monday, January 27, 2025 and Monday, January 26, 2026, each the last Monday of January. The same slot in 2027 is **Monday, January 25, 2027**. Treat that as a projection until the IRS confirms it. > **What opening day means:** Opening day is when the IRS starts accepting and processing e-filed individual returns for tax year 2026. It is not the day refunds start; the earliest refunds follow about three weeks later. ## How past seasons opened Looking at recent seasons side by side shows how stable the timing has been, even as the number of expected returns changed. | Season (tax year) | Opening day | Returns the IRS expected | Filing deadline | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2024 (tax year 2023) | Monday, January 29, 2024 | More than 128.7 million by the deadline | April 15, 2024 | | 2025 (tax year 2024) | Monday, January 27, 2025 | More than 140 million | Tuesday, April 15, 2025 | | 2026 (tax year 2025) | Monday, January 26, 2026 | About 164 million | Wednesday, April 15, 2026 | | 2027 (tax year 2026) | Not yet announced | Not yet announced | Thursday, April 15, 2027 | Recent IRS filing season openings For every other key date of the coming season, including the PATH Act date for EITC and ACTC filers, and for how to check your refund status once you file, see [2027 tax refund status and dates](https://taxrefunddesk.com/refund-timelines/tax-refund-dates-calendar). ## Can I file before the IRS opens? You can prepare your return before the IRS e-file opening date, and often you can submit it. In its 2024 announcement, the IRS said most software companies accept electronic submissions early and hold them until the IRS begins processing. The return is not received by the IRS, and the refund clock does not start, until the IRS actually accepts it. IRS Free File can also start before the main opening. In 2026, Free File began taking returns on Friday, January 9, more than two weeks before the January 26 opening, while Free File Fillable Forms opened on the opening day itself. The 2027 Free File dates are not yet announced. ### What to do in the weeks before opening day 1. Wait until you have every W-2, 1099 and other income form. Filing before a late form arrives can force you to amend later. 2. Get your new IP PIN from your IRS online account if you are enrolled. IP PINs change every year and become available in early January; a missing or wrong one gets an e-filed return rejected. 3. Find the exact adjusted gross income from your originally filed 2025 return. E-file signature checks compare it to IRS records. 4. Confirm your bank routing and account numbers. Paper refund checks are being phased out, so a missing account freezes the refund. 5. Decide whether you need an extension. If you do, Form 4868 moves the filing deadline to October 15, 2027, but any tax owed is still due April 15. Rejections at the start of the season usually come from the AGI and IP PIN checks. Our pages on [prior-year AGI rejections](https://taxrefunddesk.com/efile-rejections/rejected-agi-mismatch) and [IP PIN rejections](https://taxrefunddesk.com/efile-rejections/rejected-ip-pin) show how to fix and resubmit. ## Filing early and refund timing Filing in the first days of tax filing 2027 helps most if your return is simple and claims no credits that trigger a hold. A clean return e-filed with direct deposit during opening week could be paid by mid to late February, based on the IRS guideline of about 3 weeks from e-filing. Filing before mid-February does not speed up a refund that claims the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit. The PATH Act blocks those refunds until February 15, and February 15, 2027 is also a federal holiday. In each of the last three seasons, the IRS said most early EITC and ACTC refunds would land in late February or the first days of March. The [EITC refund date](https://taxrefunddesk.com/refund-timelines/eitc-refund-date) page will list the 2027 target when it is published. ### Does filing on opening day get you ahead? It puts you early in the line, but order is not guaranteed. Each return is processed on its own, and identity filters or reviews can hold an opening-day return longer than one filed in March. The [tax refund timeline](https://taxrefunddesk.com/refund-timelines) overview explains which situations stretch processing. ## The April 15, 2027 deadline The statutory deadline for tax year 2026 individual returns is April 15, 2027, a Thursday. Because it does not fall on a weekend or holiday, it should not shift, although the IRS usually confirms the season calendar in January. - **File by April 15, 2027** to avoid late-filing penalties if you owe. - **Pay by April 15, 2027** even if you file an extension; the extension covers filing, not payment. - **Owed a refund?** There is no penalty for filing late when you are due money, but you generally have 3 years from the due date to claim it. See [refunds on late tax returns](https://taxrefunddesk.com/refund-timelines/late-tax-return-refund). Refund rules and forms also change from year to year. Our summary of [what changes for 2027 refunds](https://taxrefunddesk.com/refund-timelines/tax-refund-season-changes) covers the direct deposit rules, new deductions and review trends that apply to this season. ## Common questions ### When does the IRS start accepting 2026 tax returns? The IRS has not announced it yet. Based on the last three seasons, which opened on the last Monday of January, late January 2027 is the likely window, with January 25 as a projection. ### Can I file my taxes before the IRS opens in 2027? You can prepare your return and many software products will accept and hold it, but the IRS does not receive or process it until opening day. Your refund timing counts from IRS acceptance. ### What is the 2027 tax deadline? Thursday, April 15, 2027 for tax year 2026 individual returns. With Form 4868 you can extend filing to October 15, 2027, but payment is still due in April. ### Do I need a new IP PIN for the 2027 season? Yes, if you are enrolled. The IP PIN is a 6-digit number that changes every year and is available in your IRS online account from early January. Each person on the return who has one must enter it. ### Does filing on the first day mean I get my refund first? Not necessarily. It helps a simple return get into the queue early, but credits, reviews and identity checks can make an early filer wait longer than someone who filed later. ## Sources - [IRS opens 2026 filing season](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-opens-2026-filing-season) - [IRS announces first day of 2026 filing season (IR-2026-02)](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-announces-first-day-of-2026-filing-season-online-tools-and-resources-help-with-tax-filing) - [2025 tax filing season starts (IR-2025-18)](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2025-tax-filing-season-starts-as-irs-begins-accepting-tax-returns-today-taxpayers-have-many-options-for-help) - [2024 tax filing season set for January 29 (IR-2024-04)](https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/2024-tax-filing-season-set-for-january-29-irs-continues-to-make-improvements-to-help-taxpayers) - [IP PIN frequently asked questions](https://www.irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams/frequently-asked-questions-about-the-identity-protection-personal-identification-number-ip-pin) - [Get an extension to file your tax return](https://www.irs.gov/filing/get-an-extension-to-file-your-tax-return)