2026 Tax Season Is Open: E-File Now and Get Your Refund Fast

The IRS officially opened the 2026 tax season on January 26, 2026, which means they’re now accepting and processing 2025 tax returns. Ready to file? TurboTax is open and can help you get your refund as quickly as possible.

Key takeaways

• New tax laws take effect this year and could increase your refund by up to $1,000
• Get your refund up to 5 days early or apply for a Refund Advance of up to $4,000^† with $0 loan fees and 0% APR

Why File Early This Year?

For millions of Americans, the tax refund represents the biggest check of the year – averaging over $3,000. This year, there’s even more reason to file early. New tax laws take effect for the first time in 2026, and filers could see up to a $1,000 refund increase (or lower balance due) compared to previous years.¹

That money matters. According to a recent Credit Karma survey, 64% of Americans living paycheck-to-paycheck and 57% of Credit Karma members are dealing with revolving debt. Getting your refund fast can help you avoid late fees, pay rent on time, and pay off debt. Last year, 93% of Gen Z taxpayers expected a refund and planned to use it for necessities.

Who Can File Taxes for Free in 2026?

If your situation fits one of the qualifying categories, TurboTax offers a few different ways to file for free – both federal and state.

• TurboTax Free Edition (Simple Returns): Roughly 37% of taxpayers qualify if you have a simple Form 1040 return only (no schedules except for Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, Student Loan Interest, or Schedule 1-A). This works well if you have W-2 income, take the standard deduction, and claim common credits.
• Military Free Filing: Active-duty and reserve military members (ranks E-1 through E-9) can file for free at any complexity level.

Get Your Tax Refund Faster

• Up to 5 Days Early: You could get your tax refund up to 5 days earlier in your own bank account for a fee² – or in a Credit Karma Money™ checking account³ for no additional cost.⁴ Just select the up to 5 days early into your own bank account or Credit Karma Money deposit option when you’re ready to file.
• Refund Advance: Need cash immediately? TurboTax offers 0% loan fees, 0% APR loan, no credit score impact for filers who need funds fast. Get approved for up to $4,000† delivered into a Credit Karma Money™ account, in as little as 30 seconds after IRS acceptance of your tax filing*.

Note: Refund Advance and the Up to 5 Days Early Program cannot be combined.

Disclosures:

¹ According to a recent study from financial services company Piper Sandler.

² Money movement services for Up to 5 Days Early are provided by Intuit Payments Inc., licensed as a Money Transmitter by the New York State Department of Financial Services. For more information about Intuit Payments’ money transmission licenses, or for Texas customers, please visit https://www.intuit.com/legal/licenses/payment-licenses/.

Up to 5 Days Early to Your Bank Account: Personal taxes only. Your federal tax refund will be deposited to your selected bank account up to 5 days before the refund settlement date provided by the IRS (the date your refund would have arrived if sent from the IRS directly). The receipt of your refund up to 5 Days Early is subject to IRS submitting refund information to us at least 5 days before the refund settlement date. IRS does not always provide refund settlement information early. You will not be eligible to receive your refund up to 5 Days Early if (1) you take a Refund Advance loan, (2) IRS delays payment of your refund, or (3) your bank’s policies do not allow for same-day payment processing. Up to 5 Days Early fee will be deducted directly from your refund prior to being deposited to your bank account. If your refund cannot be delivered at least 1 day early, you will not be charged the Up to 5 Days Early fee. Up to 5 Days Early program may change or be discontinued at any time.

³Credit Karma is not a bank. Banking services for Credit Karma Money accounts are provided by MVB Bank, Inc., Member FDIC. Maximum balance and transfer limits apply per account.

⁴ To be eligible, you don’t need to file your taxes with a particular tax prep service. However, you will not be eligible if you choose to pay your tax preparation fee using your federal tax refund or choose to take a Refund Advance loan. Up to 5 Days Early program may change or discontinue at any time. Up to 5 days early access to your federal tax refund is compared to standard tax refund electronic deposit and is dependent on and subject to IRS submitting refund information to the bank before release date. IRS may not submit refund information early.

^† If you expect to receive a federal refund of $500 or more, you could be eligible for a TurboTax Refund Advance loan. TurboTax Refund Advance loans are issued by WebBank, which is not affiliated with MVB Bank, Inc., Member FDIC. TurboTax Refund Advance is a loan based upon your anticipated refund and is not the refund itself. 0% APR and $0 loan fees. Availability of the TurboTax Refund Advance is subject to satisfaction of identity verification, certain security requirements, eligibility criteria, and underwriting standards. This TurboTax Refund Advance offer expires on April 15, 2026, or the date that available funds have been exhausted, whichever comes first. Offer, eligibility, and availability subject to change without further notice.

TurboTax Refund Advance loans issued by WebBank are facilitated by Intuit Financing Inc. (NMLS # 1136148), a subsidiary of Intuit Inc. Although there are no loan fees associated with the TurboTax Refund Advance loan, separate fees may apply if you choose to pay for TurboTax with your federal refund. Paying with your federal refund is not required for the TurboTax Refund Advance loan. Additional fees may apply for other products and services that you choose.

You will not be eligible for the loan if: (1) your physical address is not included on your federal tax return, (2) your physical address is located outside of the United States or a US territory, is a PO box or is a prison address, (3) your physical address is in one of the following states: IL, CT, or NC, (4) you are less than 18 years old, (5) the tax return filed is on behalf of a deceased person, (6) you are filing certain IRS Forms (1310, 4852, 4684, 4868, 1040SS, 1040PR, 1040X, 8888, or 8862), (7) your expected refund amount is less than $500, or (8) you did not receive Forms W-2 or 1099-R or you are not reporting income on Sched C. Additional requirements: You must (a) e-file your federal tax return with TurboTax and (b) currently have or open a Credit Karma Money™ Spend (checking) account with MVB Bank, Inc., Member FDIC. Maximum balance and transfer limits apply. Opening a Credit Karma Money™ Spend (checking) account is subject to eligibility. Please see Credit Karma Money Spend Account Terms and Disclosures for details.

Not all consumers will qualify for a loan or for the maximum loan amount. If approved, your loan will be for one of ten amounts: $250, $500, $750, $1,000, $1,500, $2,000, $2,500, $3,000, $3,500, or $4,000. Your loan amount will be based on your anticipated federal refund up to a maximum of 50% of that refund amount. TurboTax Expert Full Service customers may be eligible for a loan, issued by WebBank, in an amount that is based on the full amount of their anticipated federal refund with a maximum loan amount of $10,000, and such loans are available in amounts that are multiples of $250. Full Refund Amount calculation based upon the estimated amount of your refund less any fees associated with additional refund products. You will not receive a final decision of whether you are approved for the loan until after the IRS accepts your e-filed federal tax return. Loan repayment is deducted from your federal tax refund and reduces the subsequent refund amount paid directly to you.

If approved, your TurboTax Refund Advance will be deposited into your Credit Karma Money™ Spend (checking) account shortly after the IRS accepts your e-filed federal tax return, and you may access your funds online through a virtual card. Your physical Credit Karma Visa Debit Card should arrive in 7 – 14 days. The Credit Karma Visa Debit Card is issued by MVB Bank, Inc., Member FDIC pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.; Visa terms and conditions apply. Other fees may apply. For more information, please visit: https://support.creditkarma.com/s/article/Are-there-fees-with-a-Credit-Karma-Money-Spend-account.

If you are approved for a loan, your tax refund after deducting the amount of your loan and agreed-upon fees (if applicable) will be placed in your Credit Karma Money™ Spend (checking) account. Tax refund funds are disbursed by the IRS, typically within 21 days of e-file acceptance. If you apply for a loan and are not approved after the IRS accepts your e-filed federal tax return, your tax refund minus any agreed-upon fees (if applicable) will be placed in your Credit Karma Money™ Spend (checking) account.

If your tax refund amounts are insufficient to pay what you owe on your loan, you will not be required to repay any remaining balance. However, you may be contacted to remind you of the remaining balance and provide payment instructions to you if you choose to repay that balance. If your loan is not paid in full, you will not be eligible to receive a TurboTax Refund Advance loan in the future.

*IRS accepts returns starting January 26, 2026. Acceptance times vary. Most customers receive funds within 5 minutes of acceptance.