Filing 2025 Taxes in 2026: Your Go-To Guide
Income tax filing is relatively straightforward, but there are some key things to know about deadlines, deductions, recent tax changes, and filing requirements. If you're wondering how your taxes have changed or which 1040 you should file, here's a complete breakdown of everything you need to know to file your income taxes.
The One Big Beautiful Bill that passed includes permanently extending tax cuts from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including increasing the cap on the amount of state and local or sales tax and property tax (SALT) that you can deduct, makes cuts to energy credits passed under the Inflation Reduction Act, makes changes to taxes on tips and overtime for certain workers, reforms Medicaid, increases the Debt ceiling, and reforms Pell Grants and student loans. Updates to this article are in process. Check our One Big Beautiful Bill article for more information.
When a significant natural disaster hits – such as a hurricane, earthquake, tornado, flood, wildfire, blizzard, or the like – the IRS will extend upcoming federal tax deadlines for affected taxpayers if a federal disaster is declared. The extended due dates apply to most federal tax returns and payments, including those for income taxes (including estimated tax payments), payroll taxes, and excise taxes. If you’re impacted by a natural disaster, check our IRS Disaster Relief page to see if you qualify for an automatic tax filing or payment extension.
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Key Takeaways
- You generally have to file a 2025 federal income tax return if your gross income is at least as much as your Standard Deduction for the year.
- The deadline for filing 2025 federal tax returns is April 15, 2026. You can get a six-month extension to October 15, 2026, but it doesn't extend the time to pay any taxes owed.
- Tax changes for the 2025 tax year included higher Standard Deduction amounts, updated tax brackets, and new rules for 1099-K forms.
- Watch out for scammers who try to get refund checks from the IRS by stealing your personal information and filing tax returns in your name. One way to prevent this is to get an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number from the IRS.
Answers to tax filing FAQs
Filing your taxes for the prior year is often top of mind when the new year rolls around. Fortunately, this quick-reference guide can help you get through filing your federal income tax return for the 2025 tax year (which is due in 2026). Whether you file on your own or get help from a tax expert, we have answers to frequently asked questions about filing 2025 taxes this year.
Who needs to file taxes for the 2025 tax year?
Before starting work on your 2025 federal tax return, make sure you’re required to file one. In most cases, you only have to file a return if your gross income is at least as much as your Standard Deduction for the tax year (more on the Standard Deduction later). For this purpose, gross income generally includes all income you received during the tax year in the form of money, goods, property, and services that isn't specifically exempt from tax.
There are some exceptions to the general rule. For example, married people who are filing a separate return must file if their gross income is at least $5. Children and other dependents also have to file a return for the 2025 tax year if they have unearned income over $1,350. Other common exceptions require you to file a 2025 tax return if you:
- owe household employment taxes, alternative minimum taxes, or certain other “special taxes”
- have at least $400 of self-employment income for the year
- took money out of a health savings account (HSA), Archer medical savings account (MSA), or Medicare Advantage MSA
- received advanced premium tax credit payments
- bought an electric vehicle in 2025 and transferred the clean vehicle credit to the dealer to lower the price
Even if you aren’t required to file a return, you still might want to file one anyway. For instance, if you had income taxes withheld from your paycheck or other payments you received during the tax year, you could get that money back if you file a return. The same is true if you made estimated tax payments during the year. You can also file a return just to claim a refundable tax credit – such as the Earned Income Credit, Additional Child Tax Credit, American Opportunity Tax Credit, or Premium Tax Credit – which can trigger a tax refund.
When does tax filing season start this year?
Tax season usually starts at the end of January. This year’s tax season will likely begin towards the end of January 2025. That’s the time the IRS will likely start accepting returns for the 2025 tax year. If you completed a return using tax software (like TurboTax) before that date, your return was held until at least the date that the IRS begins accepting returns and then it will be sent to the IRS.
What’s the deadline for filing 2025 tax returns?
For most people, the deadline for filing your federal income tax return for the 2025 tax year and paying any tax due is April 15, 2026. However, certain people impacted by recent natural disasters have more time to file and pay.
The due date for making your first estimated tax payment for the 2026 tax year is also April 15, 2026. It’s also the last day you can contribute to an IRA or HSA for the 2025 tax year.
How can I get an extension for filing my 2025 tax return?
If you need more time to file your federal income tax return, you can get an automatic six-month extension. This will push the due date for your 2025 return to October 15, 2026.
But the extension only gives you more time to file your return. It doesn’t give you more time to pay any tax due. So, you have to estimate how much tax you’ll owe (if any) and pay that amount by the April 15 deadline. Otherwise, you’ll likely have to pay a late-payment penalty and interest on any unpaid taxes.
There are two ways to get the automatic extension. The most popular method is to file Form 4868. You can file the form electronically or by mail. However, with either option, don’t forget to pay any tax you expect to owe.
You can also get a six-month extension simply by paying all or part of your estimated tax bill. The payment has to be made electronically (if you want to mail a check, then file a paper Form 4868 with it) – and make sure you indicate that the payment is for an extension by checking the appropriate box. See the IRS website for more information on how to make an electronic tax payment.
Other extensions may be available if you’re in the military or living abroad.
How can I file my taxes for 2025?
One of the first things you need to decide is whether you’re going to complete and file your tax return yourself or hire a tax preparer – such as a CPA or enrolled agent – to do it for you. It often comes down to your comfort level with the tax rules, how much spare time you have, and/or your budget.
If you’re confident you can file an error-free return and don’t mind spending some time focusing on your finances, you can try it yourself and save a few dollars. On the other hand, if you’re not comfortable with the “do-it-yourself” approach or you’re strapped for time, paying an expert to do your taxes is probably well worth the money.
TurboTax Tip:
With TurboTax, you can file your tax return on your own, get help from a tax expert, or have a local tax expert do your taxes for you. Either way, your return will be 100% accurate, guaranteed.
If you’re going to do your own taxes, you can use tax software (like TurboTax) to prepare and electronically file your return. Otherwise, you’ll have to print the necessary tax forms from the IRS website, fill them in by hand, and mail them to the IRS when you’re done. It’s generally much easier to use tax software. Plus, e-filing is faster, typically more secure than mailing paper forms, and will normally speed up payment of any refund.
Which 1040 form should I use?
Form 1040 is the federal income tax form used to report your income to the IRS, claim tax deductions and credits, and calculate any refund or tax due for the year.
For most people, there are two main versions to choose from:
- Form 1040. The standard Form 1040 is the version most taxpayers will use. While Form 1040 is only two pages long, many people need to attach additional forms and schedules to their tax returns to report different types of income and claim deductions and tax credits.
- Form 1040-SR. This is a newer version of Form 1040 for people age 65 and older. The basic difference between this version and the standard Form 1040 is that Form 1040-SR uses a larger font and includes a Standard Deduction table printed right on the form.
There’s also the less common Form 1040-NR, which is used by nonresident aliens who have U.S. source income, and Form 1040-X, which is used to amend tax returns that you previously filed.
What tax changes for 2025 do I need to know about?
Every year there are at least some changes to the federal tax rules that can impact how much you owe or the size of your tax refund. Many of the changes are simply annual inflation adjustments to dollar amounts in the U.S. tax code, while others can be based on legislation passed by Congress or new IRS policies.
Many of the tax changes for 2025 are listed in the "What's New” section of the 2025 Form 1040 instructions, but let’s take a quick look at a few of the more significant ones here.
Updated tax brackets. There are a lot of factors influencing the amount of tax you owe, and the tax bracket you’re in is one of the most important. But did you know that the federal income tax brackets are adjusted each year to account for inflation?
While the income tax rates that go along with each bracket haven’t changed (they go from 10% to 37%), the taxable income ranges for each bracket were adjusted for the 2025 tax year.
The 2025 tax brackets for federal income tax returns due April 15, 2025, are as follows (based on your filing status).
Filing Status: Single, Married Filing Jointly (MFJ), and Qualifying Surviving Spouse (QSS)
|
Tax Rate |
Single Taxable Income Range |
MFJ and QSS Taxable Income Range |
|
10% |
Not over $11,925 |
Not over $23,850 |
|
12% |
Over $11,925 but not over $48,475 |
Over $23,850 but not over $96,950 |
|
22% |
Over $48,475 but not over $103,350 |
Over $96,950 but not over $206,700 |
|
24% |
Over $103,350 but not over $197,300 |
Over $206,700 but not over $394,600 |
|
32% |
Over $197,300 but not over $250,525 |
Over $394,600 but not over $501,050 |
|
35% |
Over $250,525 but not over $626,350 |
Over $501,050 but not over $751,600 |
|
37% |
Over $626,350 |
Over $751,600 |
Filing Status: Head of Household (HOH) and Married Filing Separately (MFS)
|
Tax Rate |
HOH Taxable Income Range |
MFS Taxable Income Range |
|
10% |
Not over $17,000 |
Not over $11,925 |
|
12% |
Over $17,000 but not over $64,850 |
Over $11,925 but not over $48,475 |
|
22% |
Over $64,850 but not over $103,350 |
Over $48,475 but not over $103,350 |
|
24% |
Over $103,350 but not over $197,300 |
Over $103,350 but not over $197,300 |
|
32% |
Over $197,300 but not over $250,500 |
Over $197,300 but not over $250,525 |
|
35% |
Over $250,500 but not over $626,350 |
Over $250,525 but not over $375,800 |
|
37% |
Over $626,350 |
Over $375,800 |
Use our Tax Bracket Calculator to estimate your taxable income for 2025 and figure out which tax bracket you're in.
Higher Standard Deductions. There were several 2025 changes to tax deductions and credits resulting from the annual inflation adjustments. But one of the most impactful inflation adjustments each year are those for the Standard Deduction (since about 90% of all taxpayers claim this deduction each year).
For the 2025 tax year, the Standard Deduction for Single filers and married taxpayers who file separate returns was increased from $14,600 (for 2024) to $15,750, while it jumped from $29,200 to $31,500 for married couples filing jointly and qualifying surviving spouses. For Head-of-Household filers, the 2025 Standard Deduction rose from $21,900 to $23,625.
The additional Standard Deduction amounts for age or blindness were also increased for the 2025 tax year. It’s equal to $1,600 for joint filers, married taxpayers filing separately, and surviving spouses (up from $1,550 for 2024); and $2,000 for Single taxpayers and Head of Household filers (up from $1,950 for 2024).
If you can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return, your Standard Deduction for 2025 can’t exceed the greater of $1,350 (up from $1,300 for 2024), or $450 (for 2024 and 2025) plus your earned income (up to the regular Standard Deduction amount).
New tax deductions. Four new tax deductions were created by the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB), which was signed into law on July 4, 2025. They are the:
- Tip Deduction (“No Tax on Tips”)
- Overtime Deduction (“No Tax on Overtime”)
- Car Loan Interest Deduction (“No Tax on Car Loan Interest”)
- Senior Deduction (“Enhanced Deduction for Seniors”)
All four apply for the 2025 through 2028 tax years – so you'll be able to claim them for the first time on your 2025 tax return. Use Schedule 1-A to calculate and claim these deductions.
Increased SALT cap. The OBBB also raised the limit on the deduction for state and local taxes (SALT) from $10,000 to $40,000 for the 2025 tax year ($20,000 for married people filing separate returns).
However, if your modified adjusted gross income is over $500,000 ($250,000 for married couples filing separately), the SALT deduction limit is gradually reduced until it drops to $10,000 ($5,000 for married couples filing separately).
New Form 1099-K thresholds. There have been a lot of questions about 1099-K forms ever since changes were made by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 to the thresholds for sending the form to someone who receives payments for the sale of goods or services. The legislation changed the threshold from payments over $20,000 from more than 200 transactions to payments over $600 regardless of the number of transactions.
The IRS has been implementing the change in stages. The pre-ARPA threshold was used for the 2022 and 2023 tax years. However, for the 2024 tax year, a $5,000 payment threshold, without regard to the number of transactions, applies.
For 2025 and thereafter, the threshold will revert back to payments over $20,000 from more than 200 transactions.
Can I file taxes for previous years when I file my 2025 taxes?
You may be missing out on a refund or perhaps owe back taxes if you didn’t file a tax return for a previous year. If you want to file the missed return now, you can do that when you file your 2025 return. You’ll just want to separate your current year return and any prior year returns – that is, use separate forms, envelopes (if mailing your returns), versions of tax software, and the like.
If you’re due a tax refund from a previous tax year for which you didn’t file a return, you generally have three years from the due date for the missed return to file. So, for example, you can still file tax returns for the 2022 tax year until April 15, 2026, to claim a refund.
If you’re filing a return now for a pre-2025 tax year, be sure you’re using the right tax forms. Don’t use forms for 2025. Instead, use forms specifically designated for the tax year of your return. For example, if you’re preparing a return for the 2022 tax year, you have to use 2022 tax forms, schedules, and instructions.
You can typically use tax preparation software – such as TurboTax – to file a prior-year return. If you prefer to file a paper return, you can print older tax forms from the IRS website.
Are there “tax scams” to watch out for when filing 2025 taxes?
Unfortunately, there are some dishonest people out there who try to steal your personal information so they can file bogus tax returns in your name – and get the IRS to send them a big refund check in the process.
Many scammers try to get your personal information through phone, email, or social media “phishing” schemes. These are designed to trick you into giving up the information they want – often using demands or threats to scare you.
Sometimes scammers impersonate government officials – like IRS agents. Don’t fall for this. The IRS won't:
- contact you on social media
- threaten to call law enforcement or immigration officials
- take your citizenship status, driver's license, or business license
- leave pre-recorded voicemails (robocalls)
- mail tax debt resolution advertisements
Instead, their initial contact with a taxpayer is generally through the mail – not by phone or email. They may later contact you by other means, but that’s not until after the initial contact has been made. If you do get a letter or notice from the IRS, you can search IRS.gov for its number to learn more about it (look in the upper right hand corner for the number). If the letter or notice doesn’t appear in your search or looks suspicious, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 to report it.
One way to prevent criminals from filing tax returns in your name is to get an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number (IP PIN). Only you and the IRS will know this number. If an income tax return with your name on it is filed electronically, the IRS will reject it if your IP PIN isn’t included. For paper returns, the IRS will delay processing a return using your name until it can validate the personal information.
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