2026 tax season is nearly here, and the IRS is encouraging Americans to start gathering and organizing their tax records now to ensure accurate returns and avoid refund delays.
“It’s not too early to get ready for the 2026 tax season,” the IRS said in a “Get Ready” announcement last week.
Taxpayers can visit IRS.gov/GetReady for tips before they file their returns. To start, the IRS recommends collecting:
- Bank account information
- W-2 forms from employers
- 1099 forms from banks and other payers
- Records of digital asset transactions
But taxpayers should wait to file their returns until they have received all of their tax records, which should happen by the early months of 2026.
The “One Big Beautiful Bill,” signed into law this summer, can have a significant impact on federal taxes, credits and deductions, the IRS says.
Here are some of the provisions from that bill:
Income tax, credits and deductions
- Tax inflation adjustments
- Deduction for seniors
- No tax on tips
- No tax on overtime
- No tax on car loan interest
Family and dependent credits
- Enhancement of adoption credit
Clean energy
- Expiring clean vehicle credits
- Expiring home energy credits
