Filing Your Taxes Early Is Especially Smart This Year

There are two types of people in this world: those who file their taxes early, and those who wait until April. (Well, maybe three: Some taxpayers put it off all the way to October.)

While millions procrastinate on tax prep each year, there are a few notable advantages to filing sooner — and that's extra true this tax season, which is the first after the signing of the wide-ranging One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

Early filing helps avoid unwanted surprises just before the tax deadline and gives taxpayers quicker access to their refunds. Even if you file your tax return now and owe the IRS money, you don't have to pay that bill immediately. The due date for tax payments remains April 15.

"Filing early can be beneficial to just get them out of the way, but only once you have all your documents," Jared Ballew, vice president of government relations at TaxAct, tells Money in an email. "Rushing before your W-2 arrives leads to mistakes."

Assuming you've got your paperwork, here's why you should file your taxes early, especially in 2026.

You'll get your refund sooner

Most taxpayers end up getting money back from the federal government in the form of tax refunds — cash that's better to have in your pocket sooner rather than later.

The average refund was $3,167 for the 2025 filing season, and millions of taxpayers benefiting from cuts in last year's megabill will receive even larger refunds this season. Some forecasts indicate the average refund amount could increase by about $1,000.

Getting that refund in your hands sooner allows taxpayers to invest the funds, pay off debt and plan for upcoming purchases. Just be prepared to wait up to 21 days for refunds to arrive on e-filed returns, according to the IRS.

Tax prep gets more expensive the later you wait

In April, when everyone is rushing to file their taxes at the same time, accountants and tax preparation companies often charge rush fees. Rates for tax software services also tend to increase later in tax filing season, as limited-time-only discounts like TaxAct's $24.99 federal and state filing promotion or Intuit's file-for-free-in-the-app deal run out.

If you find yourself stuck on a tough tax problem, it could also be more difficult to get professional help later in the season: "April [filing] isn't a disaster, but you'll compete with millions of procrastinators for support if something goes wrong," Ballew says.

Even the government isn't immune from 11th-hour tax drama. An official IRS website crashed on Tax Day in 2018, interrupting payments during the system outage. (The agency gave everyone an extra day to pay their taxes to remedy the issue.)

It reduces identity theft risk

Americans report billions of dollars in tax fraud every year. Filing your tax return early blocks bad actors from getting to your refund before you.

"As soon as a Social Security number is used for a tax return, it cannot be used again that tax year," as Jackson Hewitt Tax Services wrote in a recent news release. "Taxpayers can avoid this headache by filing early to lock down personal information and protect against someone else using it."

Note: This is just one measure you should take if you have concerns about identity theft and your taxes. Experts also recommend establishing a free IP PIN to protect against tax-related identity theft. (Think of it as two-factor authentication for tax filing.)

You'll have more time to track down documents

Filing your taxes can be like renewing a driver's license: You often realize you need one more document than expected.

Starting early gives you plenty of time to track down any missing items in the coming weeks. Though employers are supposed to send W-2s and 1099s by Feb. 2, Jackson Hewitt added that taxpayers claiming deductions may need to gather additional documents.

You can avoid surprise tax bills

Waiting until April increases the risk of realizing at the last minute that you owe the IRS a large amount of money. It's better to know sooner how much you will be on the hook to pay.

An early refund is a nice bonus, but a months-in-advance heads up about a looming tax bill can be just as valuable, providing vital time to budget for the tax hit.

Julia Glum contributed reporting to this story.

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