The IRS has not publicly stated when it will begin accepting tax returns in 2026. Last year, the agency began accepting returns on Jan. 27.

According to the order, it is “16 times more likely” for paper checks and money orders to be lost, stolen, returned undeliverable, or altered than electronically-disbursed funds. The IRS notes that every refund check it issues “costs the nation’s taxpayers more than $1,” while direct deposit refunds cost about a dime.

The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan think tank, estimates that the various tax cuts included in the bill will increase the average Americans tax return by anywhere from $300 to $1,000 when filing in 2026.

Trump predicts record tax refunds in 2026. Here’s how new tax laws, withholding changes, and timing could mean a bigger refund—or lower taxes—for you.

Learn how the new "no tax on tips" deduction can reduce your federal taxable income by up to $25,000 if you earn tips at work.