You're probably sitting there with a pile of mail or a cluttered inbox, wondering if you can just get this over with already. Honestly, the itch to file early is real, especially if you're expecting a fat refund check to cover that holiday credit card debt or a much-needed getaway. But "doing your taxes" and "filing your taxes" are actually two different beasts.
The short answer? You can start when can u start doing your taxes basically as soon as the ball drops on New Year’s Eve, but the IRS won't actually let you through the door until their official "opening day." For 2026, that usually lands in late January.
Let's be real: starting early is a power move. It gives you a massive head start on identity thieves who love to file fake returns using stolen Social Security numbers. If you get yours in first, their fraudulent attempt gets bounced. It's that simple.
The IRS Calendar vs. Your Personal Timeline
Every year, the IRS sets a specific date for when their electronic systems begin processing returns. Historically, this is somewhere between January 20th and January 29th. If you use software like TurboTax or H&R Block, you can actually submit your return before that date. They just hold it in a digital "waiting room" and blast it over to the IRS the second the gates open.
But wait. There’s a catch.
If you file too early without having all your paperwork, you’re basically asking for an audit or, at the very least, a massive headache involving an amended return (Form 1040-X). You don't want to go there. Amended returns take months to process.
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Why January 31st is the Real Date to Watch
Most employers and financial institutions are legally required to send out your tax forms by January 31st. This includes your W-2s and most 1099s. If you’re sitting there on January 15th trying to guess your total income based on your last paystub, you're playing a dangerous game. Why? Because your year-end paystub might not account for taxable fringe benefits or specific pre-tax deductions that the W-2 will clarify.
You’ve got to be patient.
Wait for the mail. Or, more likely these days, check your "Tax Documents" portal for every bank account, brokerage, and employer you touched during the year.
The Paperwork Hunt: What You Need Before Touching the Software
Don't even think about opening your tax software until you have a solid "source of truth." You need to gather:
- W-2s from every single job you held. Even that three-day stint at the coffee shop.
- 1099-NEC or 1099-K if you did any freelance work or sold items on platforms like eBay or Etsy.
- 1099-INT for that measly $12 in interest your savings account earned. Yes, the IRS wants their cut of that too.
- 1098-T if you’re a student or paying for tuition.
- 1095-A if you got health insurance through the Marketplace. This one is huge. If you forget it, the IRS will reject your return almost instantly.
Most people forget the "side hustle" income. If you made over $600 through Venmo or PayPal for business services, you're likely getting a 1099-K this year. The rules around this have been a total see-saw lately with the IRS delaying implementation, but the safe bet is to report everything.
The Early Bird Strategy
If you really want to know when can u start doing your taxes in a way that actually benefits you, think of January as "Organization Month."
You don't need the IRS to be open to start a spreadsheet. Track your deductible expenses. If you’re self-employed, pull those mileage logs together now. Dig through your shoebox of receipts for charitable donations. Doing this legwork on January 5th makes the actual filing on January 25th take twenty minutes instead of five hours.
There's a psychological win here, too. Taxes are stressful. By breaking it into chunks—gathering info in early January and filing in late January—you avoid that April 14th panic that leads to sloppy mistakes.
The PATH Act Delay
Here is a bit of nuance most "guides" skip: if you’re claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), the IRS is legally barred from issuing your refund before mid-February. This is thanks to the PATH Act.
It doesn't matter if you file on the very first day in January. The IRS will hold your money to perform extra fraud checks. If you’re counting on that money for rent on February 1st, you need a Plan B. Most of these refunds don't hit bank accounts until the first week of March.
Dealing With Missing Forms
What happens if it's February 15th and your old boss still hasn't sent your W-2? It happens. People are flaky.
First, try to reach out. Usually, it's just a wrong address or a forgotten password. If that fails, you can actually contact the IRS after the end of February. They’ll send a letter to the employer on your behalf. It's a bit of a "nuclear option," but it works. You can also use Form 4852, which is a substitute for a W-2, but expect that to slow down your processing time significantly while the IRS verifies your numbers.
Modern Filing: Digital vs. Paper
If you are still mailing a paper return in 2026, we need to have a talk. It’s slow. It’s prone to getting lost. It takes the IRS forever to type your data into their system.
E-filing is the only way to go. If you make under a certain income threshold (usually around $79,000), you can use "IRS Free File." It's a partnership between the government and big-name software companies to let you file for free. Most people don't know it exists because the big companies hide it behind expensive marketing for their "Deluxe" versions.
Final Steps for a Smooth Start
Once you have your documents, choose your platform. Whether you use a CPA or a DIY software, the process is the same. Double-check your Social Security number. Double-check your bank routing number. A single transposed digit in your bank info can send your refund into a digital abyss that takes months to recover from.
Start by creating a dedicated folder—digital or physical. As soon as a tax document hits your hand, put it in the folder.
Don't wait for the April 15th deadline unless you owe a massive amount of money and want to keep that cash in your own high-yield account for as long as possible. If you owe, you can still file in January and schedule your payment for April 15th. It's the best of both worlds: you get the paperwork out of the way, but keep your money until the last second.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your email for notifications from employers about "Electronic W-2 Consent." Sign up for it now to get your forms weeks earlier than snail mail.
- Log into your IRS.gov account. If you don't have one, set it up via ID.me. This allows you to see your "Transcript" and ensure the IRS has the same income info you do.
- Inventory your 1099s. If you traded crypto, sold stock, or did freelance work, go to those specific websites and find the "Tax" tab. Many of these aren't mailed anymore; you have to go get them.
- Confirm your mailing address with any former employers from the past year to ensure your W-2 doesn't end up at an old apartment.