The official start date for the 2026 tax season is Monday, January 26, 2026.  For most individuals, the main deadline to file or extend is April 15, 2026.  The extension deadline is October 15, 2026 although payments are still due by  April 15.  

The IRS strongly encourages taxpayers to wait until they receive all income and information documents (like W-2s and 1099s) before filing to avoid errors, processing delays, and having to file an amended return, which can take months to process. Filing with incomplete information can lead to mismatches with IRS records, potentially stopping your return and refund until discrepancies are resolved.

Because the majority of BGGE bookkeeping clients are sole proprietors who ...