As tax filing season begins, a change is coming to the way you receive your refund

The first day you can file your taxes for the 2025 tax year is officially here.

Tax filing season for 2026 opened for business Monday, according to an announcement from the Internal Revenue Service. Officials expect about 164 million individual tax returns to be filed ahead of the Wednesday, April 15 deadline.

According to the agency, several new tax law provisions could “help lower tax bills and potentially increase refund amounts.” But officials are also advising of a change to how refunds are sent.

“In accordance with Executive Order 14247, the IRS began phasing out paper tax refund checks on Sept. 30, 2025, meaning most taxpayers must provide their routing and account numbers to receive refunds directly deposited into their bank accounts.”

According to a release issued by the IRS last September, “most refunds will be delivered by direct deposit or other secure electronic methods” as part of the change.

The IRS added that direct deposit is the “fastest way to receive a refund,” which are typically issued within 21 days.

The agency also said most refunds for the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Additional Child Tax Credit can expect to be available in bank accounts or on debit cards by March 2, 2026, “for taxpayers who chose direct deposit and have no other issues with their returns.”

“Some taxpayers may receive their refund earlier, depending on their financial institution,” the IRS said.

Tax law changes for 2026

For the 2026 tax season, the IRS will be implementing major provisions of Republicans’ tax and spending package package, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” signed into law last summer.

According to the IRS, the act will “significantly affects federal taxes, credits and deductions.”

Some standard tax deductions will increase as part of the new bill. Adoption credits also increased, along with an estate tax exclusion, the IRS said. Some senior could also claim a higher deduction, the new provisions state. The act also eliminated tax on tips, overtime and car loan interest.

According to the bill, the Child Tax Credit for 2025 increased slightly, to $2,200 per child, up from $2,000, an H&R Block breakdown says.

The new provisions also stripped taxpayers the opportunity to earn credits from making their homes more energy efficient, or buying electric vehicles.

How long do tax refunds take?

According to the IRS, refunds are “issued in less than 21 days if filing electronically,” choosing direct deposit. Non-electronic payments may take 6 weeks or longer for refunds sent by mail.

How to track your refund

Taxpayers can track refund status using Where’s My Refund?, the IRS2Go app, or their IRS Individual Online Account.

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