Get ready to file your taxes

Tax planning is for everyone. Get ready today to file your federal income tax return. Planning ahead can help you file an accurate return and avoid delays that can slow your tax refund.

The One, Big, Beautiful Bill can have a significant effect on federal taxes, credits and deductions. The IRS and Treasury are working to implement the law and provide guidance for taxpayers. Visit the One, Big, Beautiful Bill provisions page on IRS.gov for the latest information on tax law provisions, such as no tax on tips, no tax on overtime, no tax on car loan interest, the new deduction for seniors and other provisions, to determine how those changes could impact tax return filing.

What’s new and what to consider the next time you file

Taxpayers may receive a Form 1099-K

Taxpayers who received more than $20,000 in payments for goods and services in more than 200 transactions through an online marketplace or payment app in 2025 should expect to receive a Form 1099-K in January 2026. The IRS will also receive a copy of your Form 1099-K.

There have been no changes to the taxability of income. All income, including proceeds from part-time work, side jobs or the sale of goods and services is taxable. Taxpayers must report all income on their tax return unless it’s excluded by law, whether they receive a Form 1099-K, a Form 1099-NEC, Form 1099-MISC, or any other information return.

It is important for taxpayers to understand why they received a Form 1099-K and how to use it along with their other records to figure and report the correct amount of income on their tax return. It is also important for taxpayers to know what to do if they received a Form 1099-K but shouldn’t have. In either situation, good recordkeeping is key and will help make tax filing easier.

See What to do with Form 1099-K for more information

Changes that may affect your tax refund

Life events, such as purchasing a home, going to college or losing a job, may make you eligible for certain tax benefits. Other circumstances, such as getting married or divorced, welcoming a child or experiencing the death of a spouse or a dependent you claim, could also affect your tax benefit eligibility and filing status. These changes could mean you qualify for tax credits like the Education Credits,  Child Tax Credit/Additional Child Tax Credit (CTC/ACTC), the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the Child and Dependent Care Credit and Credit for Other Dependents (ODC).

• For 2025, the CTC is worth up to $2,200 for each qualifying child. A child must be under age 17 at the end of 2025 to be a qualifying child and meet other eligibility rules.
• For 2025, the EITC eligible taxpayers with no qualifying children may receive up to $649.
• If your dependent is age 17 or older at the end of 2025, they may qualify for the ODC.

For the Child and Dependent Care Credit, taxpayers may receive up to 35% of their employment expenses. Visit Credits and deductions for more details.

Expiring energy-related credits and deductions

The One, Big, Beautiful Bill accelerated the termination of several energy credit and deduction provisions. Fact Sheet 2025-05 has information on which energy credits and deductions are expiring under OBBB and their new termination dates. The information provides general guidance to taxpayers and tax professionals. Visit the One, Big, Beautiful Bill provisions page for the latest information.

Avoid refund delays and understand refund timing

Many different factors can affect the timing of your refund after we receive your return. Although the IRS issues most refunds in less than 21 days, the IRS cautions taxpayers not to rely on receiving a refund by a certain date, especially when making major purchases or paying bills.

Identity theft and refund fraud. Some returns may require additional review and may take longer to process. The IRS, along with its partners in the tax industry, continue to strengthen security reviews to help protect against identity theft and refund fraud.

Managing refund expectations. If you claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), the IRS cannot issue these refunds before mid-February. This applies to the entire refund, even the portion not associated with these credits. Check Where’s My Refund in mid- to late-February for your personalized refund date.

Payment modernization. In accordance with Executive Order 14247, the IRS began phasing out paper tax refund checks on Sept. 30, 2025. For tax year 2025, the IRS will request banking information on all tax returns when filed to issue refunds via direct deposit or electronic funds transfer. For payments or remittances associated with fees, fines and taxes to the IRS, online payment options are the preferred method.

Returns requiring manual review. Some returns, filed electronically or on paper, may need manual review delaying the processing if our systems detect a possible error, the return is missing information, or there is suspected identity theft or fraud. Some of these situations require us to correspond with taxpayers to gather additional information, but some do not. This work does require special handling by an IRS employee so, in these instances, it may take the IRS more than 21 days to issue any related refund. In cases where the IRS can correct the return without requesting additional information, the IRS will make the correction and send an explanation to the taxpayer.

Make sure you’ve withheld enough tax

Consider adjusting your withholding if you owed taxes or received a large refund when you filed. Changing your withholding can help you avoid a tax bill or let you keep more money each payday. Credit amounts may change each year, so visit IRS.gov and use the Interactive Tax Assistant to identify whether you qualify for any tax credits that may call for a withholding adjustment. Life changes – getting married or divorced, welcoming a child, or taking on a second job – may also result in a need to update withholding.

Use the Tax Withholding Estimator to help you determine the right amount of tax to have withheld from your paycheck. This tool on IRS.gov will help determine if you need to adjust your withholding and submit a new Form W-4 to your employer.

Consider estimated tax payments. If you receive a substantial amount of non-wage income like self-employment income, investment income, taxable Social Security benefits and in some instances, pension and annuity income, you should make quarterly estimated tax payments. For estimated tax purposes, the year is divided into four payment periods, with the last payment due in mid-January.

Log in to your online account to make a payment online or go to IRS.gov/payments.