WASHINGTON (AP) — The 2026 tax filing season will officially commence on January 26, with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) beginning to accept and process tax returns for the year 2025. The deadline for filing these returns will be April 15, 2026.
Tax experts, along with the IRS's independent watchdog, are expressing concerns that the upcoming filing season may face significant challenges. This is primarily attributed to the loss of tens of thousands of tax collection workers who have departed from the agency due to planned layoffs and buyouts initiated by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
In addition to workforce reductions, the IRS will also be tasked with implementing substantial provisions from a tax and spending package signed into law by Republicans last summer. Notably, several of these provisions will retroactively impact the 2025 tax year. This will likely result in an increase in inquiries from taxpayers and will necessitate updates to various tax forms used in the filing process.
Acting IRS Commissioner Scott Bessent emphasized the commitment of President Trump to enhancing the taxpayer experience, stating, “President Trump is committed to the taxpayers of this country and improving upon the successful tax filing season in 2025. I am confident in our ability to deliver results and drive growth for businesses and consumers alike.”
The IRS anticipates receiving approximately 164 million individual income tax returns during the upcoming season, which is comparable to the number it processed in the prior year.
According to the most recent National Taxpayer Advocate report delivered to Congress in June, the IRS workforce has experienced a decline, falling from 102,113 employees at the end of the Biden administration to just 75,702. Notably, the IRS website currently does not provide updated figures regarding its workforce size.
IRS employees who participated in the previous year's tax season were restricted from accepting buyout offers from the Trump administration until after the tax filing deadline of April 15, 2025.
The June report from the National Taxpayer Advocate sounded alarms about potential difficulties in the 2026 tax filing season. Erin M. Collins, who heads the organization responsible for safeguarding taxpayer rights, stated, “With the IRS workforce reduced by 26% and significant tax law changes on the horizon, there are risks to next year’s filing season.”
This combination of workforce reduction and the introduction of new tax laws presents a complex landscape for both the IRS and taxpayers as they head into the 2026 tax filing season. The challenges anticipated may lead to a cumbersome process for taxpayers seeking to navigate the updated tax landscape.
