For U.S. federal income taxes, you can file as soon as the IRS opens the filing season for that year, which is usually in mid‑ to late January.
Typical opening date
- Each year, the IRS announces the exact first day it will start accepting and processing electronic returns, and this date often falls around the second half of January.
- For example, for the 2024 tax year (filed in 2025), the IRS opened filing on January 27, 2025.
What you need before filing
- You must wait until you have all required tax documents, like W‑2s and 1099s, which employers and payers generally must send by late January.
- Filing before you receive all forms can lead to missing income and later amendments or IRS notices.
Key deadlines
- For most individual calendar‑year filers, the due date to file a federal return (without extension) is April 15, unless that date falls on a weekend or holiday, in which case it shifts to the next business day.
- You can still file earlier than that any time after the IRS opens the season, and earlier filing usually means getting any refund sooner.
If you share your country (for example, U.S., U.K., or another), more specific dates for your system can be given.
