In early January, the IRS announced that the first day for filing 2025 tax returns would be today, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. If you're expecting a tax refund this year, there's usually no reason not to file your income taxes as early as possible, and today is your very first opportunity to do so.

The US Treasury is projecting that tax filers' refunds could be $1,000 higher on average than last year. But that is not just because of new or expanded tax breaks. Tax-filing season has officially begun and will run though April 15.