STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — As you prepare for the oncoming 2026 tax season, there’s something that the Internal Revenue Service wants you to know: it’s “one of the most important steps,” in fact.
According to a statement released by the IRS, it is imperative for you to access your personal IRS individual online account.
These accounts “are available 24/7, to view account information, make payments, manage communication preferences and protect tax information.”
So, if you’re looking for things like tax returns, refund status, balances, lender authorizations, and audit statuses, they’re all available with that account.
The 2026 tax season kicks off on Jan. 26 allowing Americans to file their 2025 taxes either through a service or on their own. The standard deadline, like every year, is April 15.
Due to President Donald Trump’s legalized One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the IRS cut between 17% to 19% of their workforce.
Nevertheless, the IRS chief executive officer, Frank Bisignano, assured that the IRS is prepared to take on the influx of work in the next few months.
“The Internal Revenue Service is ready to help taxpayers meet their tax filing and payment obligations during the 2026 filing season,” Bisignano said in a statement. “As always, the IRS workforce remains vigilant and dedicated to their mission to serve the American taxpaying public. At the same time, IRS information systems have been updated to incorporate the new tax laws and are ready to efficiently and effectively process taxpayer returns during the filing season.”