Ready or not, the 2026 income tax season will kick off in less than two weeks. The IRS recently announced that Jan. 26, 2026 is the first day that US taxpayers can file their 2025 tax returns.
Are you scampering to gather the information and documentation you’ll need to file your taxes two Mondays from now? And if not — why not?
They aren’t due until April 15, you say? That’s technically true (unless you live in one of the areas receiving extra tax-filing time due to natural disasters), but I can make some strong arguments that you should file your income taxes well before April even draws near.
If you’re hoping to avoid tax scams and get your tax refund faster, you may want to file as soon as possible. While procrastination has benefits in certain situations, filing your taxes probably isn’t one of them. Read on to discover my seven reasons for filing your income taxes as early as you can.
For more tax tips, check out a breakdown of the most important tax changes for this year, or all of the tax breaks you might get if you’re a homeowner.
Reason No. 1: Get your tax refund money faster
The best reason to file your taxes early is to get your money sooner if you are expecting a tax refund. About 65% of taxpayers who filed returns by the April 15 deadline last year received tax refunds averaging $2,939. If you overpaid your taxes through paycheck withholding or other tax payments over the course of 2025, the IRS has your money, and there’s no reason not to get it back sooner rather than later.
If you get that potential $2,939 in February instead of May, the three-month difference adds up to about $30 you could earn at 4% APY in a high-yield savings account. You could also use your money for more pressing issues, like home or car repairs. The IRS allows itself 45 days to issue your tax refund without paying interest, but most tax refunds arrive within three weeks of filing a return.
Reason No. 2: Give yourself time to prepare if you owe money
When you aren’t expecting a refund from the IRS, you might have an even more pressing reason to file early: to figure out how much you owe. Regardless of when you file your tax return, you don’t have to pay any taxes that you owe for 2025 until the tax day deadline of April 15, 2026.
As someone who has owed significant taxes some years in my past, let me tell you straight: It’s traumatic to learn you owe the government a bunch of money right before taxes are due.
My hard-earned guidance: Figure out if you owe the IRS more money as early as possible so that you can prepare to pay your tax bill in April, or explore your options for setting up a payment plan with the IRS.
Reason No. 3: Reduce the risks of tax fraud and identity theft
Tax fraud and scams are big business. Between 2021 and 2022, the amount of fraudulent tax refunds identified by the IRS increased from about $16 million to over $800 million. This sort of tax fraud mostly occurs when someone else files a tax return with your name and Social Security number to claim your tax refund.
One of the best ways to prevent tax-based identity theft is to file your tax return early, before anyone else can file another tax return in your name. The sooner you file your taxes, the less likely you are to have your tax refund stolen.
If you’re not able to file early, consider creating your own Identity Protection PIN on the IRS website. You’ll need to create an online IRS account first, but once you’ve created your six-digit PIN, no one can file a tax return in your name without that secret number.
Reason No. 4: Give yourself time to test-drive tax software
One great aspect of tax software is that all the leading services let you complete your entire tax return and see the amount of your tax refund or how much you owe, for no cost. You pay for the tax software when you actually file your tax return (or if you want extra services like one-on-one technical support).
Starting your taxes early will give you time to test the available services for yourself and choose the one that you like best. Any of CNET’s picks for best tax software will help you complete your return and optimize your tax refund, but they all have unique interfaces, custom help features, variable prices and differing levels of support for various tax forms. By starting to file your taxes early, if you get frustrated with one service or can’t find the answers you need to complete your tax return, you have time to try another one.
Reason No. 5: Discover early whether or not you need help
If you’re not quite sure about managing your own 2025 tax return, getting an early start on your taxes will quickly help you determine whether you can do it on your own. If you start your taxes early and find yourself in trouble, you’ll have the opportunity to hire a tax pro before they’re all booked.
You can also get free tax help from a qualified tax resource, such as IRS Tax Assistance Centers, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide or MilTax for veterans. Note that these resources will be more in demand and harder to book as the tax deadline nears.
Reason No. 6: Reduce the stress of filing your taxes
Completing and submitting your tax return can be a stressful experience. About 34% of US taxpayers feel anxious or stressed about filing their income taxes, according to a March 2025 survey from Savanta.
The complications of the federal tax code can lead to moments of frustration for even the most prepared tax filer using the best tax software. Starting your taxes early and avoiding the April time crunch gives you plenty of opportunities to take breaks and step away for a day or two or even a week before you start working on your taxes again with fresh eyes and a clear head.
Reason No. 7: Save money on tax software
The patterns of pricing for online tax software aren’t set in stone, but tax software companies will generally increase prices for their products as the tax deadline draws closer. Major players like TurboTax, H&R Block and TaxSlayer have also been known to offer discounts and coupon codes on their software early in the tax season.
For more tax tips, learn about all the tax credits and deductions that homeowners can take.
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