Best tax software for early filers [December 2025]

Americans can begin mailing their tax returns on January 1, 2026, and electronic filing officially opens later in January or early February. Based on previous years, we estimate that the IRS will begin accepting e-file around February 17, 2026. This is to submit tax returns for the 2025 tax year.

People hoping to get a jump on filing returns can start preparing their returns by late December using their tax software of choice. However, most people shouldn’t start working on their taxes in December or January. Even if you need that refund, here are reasons why you should postpone paying your taxes until February or later.

• Tax forms not available until January or later: Companies typically send W-2 forms to employees and Forms 1099-NEC For contractors in mid to late January. They are legally due to you by January 31st at the latest. You can start paying your taxes and then come back to fill out the details when they appear in your mailbox or inbox, but it’s better to sit down and enter everything at once, and it may also help you avoid mistakes. For investments, you may not get tax forms until February or later.
• Deadlines for tax savings contributions: Most tax filers can make contributions to retirement plans for the prior year up until the tax due date or when you file your tax return. If you hold off until April, you have a few more months to make tax-deductible contributions to IRAs, Roth IRAs, and HSAs and lower your tax bill.
• Adjusted returns: If you make a mistake or your tax form arrives late, you can always update your taxes with an amended return. However, this is time-consuming, and many tax applications charge additional fees for amended returns. If you wait, you’ll likely have everything you need to avoid mistakes.

In most cases, we suggest holding off until late February to pay your taxes, but you can register and enter your personal information today. By signing up for your preferred tax software early, you may be able to lock in a deal at a lower price before the price rises as tax day approaches.

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Another option for filing early is an anticipatory tax refund loan or tax advance loan. You can see our complete guide to tax refund anticipation loans here. Given the fees and interest costs, it’s best to wait to get your money back if you can.

Although filing too early is a problem, filing as early as possible makes sense in most situations. This means you’ll need to determine when your tax information will arrive to make the best decision.

• Get your refund faster: Many people make thousands of dollars. This amount can be especially welcome after a year of underemployment or limited income.
• Determine expected tax models: When you start working on your tax return early, you can see if you’re missing forms. Keeping track of these things by the deadline is much easier when you have plenty of time and a good list of what you need.
• Reduce the risk of identity theft: Someone else may file a fake tax return to claim a fraudulent refund using your Social Security number, but they can’t once you file your tax return. Applying early is a little extra protection against identity theft.
• Appreciate what you owe: If you’re self-employed, running a side business, or earning any other income outside of work, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise if you find you owe money this year. Filing early gives you more time to get the money together to make the payment by the IRS deadline in April.
• Avoid the stress of submitting files at the last minute: It’s stressful to line up at the post office or struggle against a deadline on your computer on the tax due date. When you file your taxes early, you’ll have plenty of time to finish and give them a second review to make sure your filing is error-free.

Getting a jump on gathering and entering this information can help you file as soon as possible. Smart tax filers keep a paper folder at home and a digital folder on their computer or cloud drive to collect their information in one place, so it’s all readily available when they want to file.

Some taxpayers with simpler taxes have all the information they need to file their taxes by mid-January. If you’re an early adopter, you can expect import functionality and other “bells and whistles” to be available when your models are available. First filers can usually file their federal returns electronically a few weeks after the start of the new year.

If you file in early January using tax software, your tax return will be among the first sent to the IRS for processing, putting your refund at the front of the line. You can view our tax refund calendar to see when your tax refund will arrive.

Unfortunately, filing for state is not always quick and easy. Each tax software company opens a state filing on different dates because it is prepared to process those states’ returns. Companies must update in all 50 states, which may take some time. If you live in a state that is seeing big tax law changes this year, you can expect delays in filing your state filings.

In some cases, government application options may open as early as mid-January, while others may be delayed until March. Remember, users can electronically file their federal returns before filing their state returns, but it’s easier to do both than to file your federal returns first and then come back later for your state taxes.

For early filing, all major tax software providers have options. We’ve narrowed down these five contenders as the best options for early filers in 2026. To compare leading tax software for early filers, we judged on the following criteria:

• Ease of use
• How much programming is available in mid-December?
• Pricing
• Technical issues

Note that all tax software undergoes frequent updates. Many of the missing pieces are expected to be released before Christmas, but some may not be ready until mid-January.

Some popular options that aren’t ready yet include cash app taxes and ring taxes.

You can read our detailed reviews here:

* TurboTax Free Edition. ~37% of taxpayers qualify. Returns Simple Form 1040 only (no schedules, except for EITC, CTC, Student Loan Interest, and Schedule 1-A)
**Approximately 52% of applicants qualify for the free version of H&R Block Online. Minor tax situations only (Form 1040 and no schedules except for the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Student Loan Interest, and Retirement Plan Distributions).

TurboTax offers early e-filing recovery options with its software. You can get up to $4,000, depending on the size of your tax refund. The minimum tax refund for an advance is $500.

The funds will be deposited into your Credit Karma Money account. This is only available through February 15, but that makes sense because it will only take 21 days to get your regular refund by the time tax season opens.

FreeTaxUSA offers excellent functionality at a very low price. First filers, even those with complex filing situations, can complete their federal filings for free.

The state filing cost is $15.99 per state. FreeTaxUSA is an excellent option for tax filers who don’t want to upgrade just because they have daycare expenses or an HSA.

TaxSlayer Classic gives users access to every major tax form, so even sophisticated filers can use it. The program is also easy to use and full of great knowledge articles. The biggest drawback of TaxSlayer is the lack of support for W-2 or 1099 imports.

Final thoughts

It’s important to remember that this guide is your first snapshot of tax season and the programs available. We can’t even test some tax software options until early January. However, we know that many Americans want to file their taxes as soon as possible.

If you’re racing to claim your tax refund, these options should meet your needs. For more in-depth reviews, check out our website YouTube tax software reviews here.