Ready for Tax Season? Essential Resources to File with Confidence

Key takeaways

• Filing early can help speed up your refund.
• TurboTax offers tools to help you file your taxes and maximize your refund.
• Eligible filers may access early refund delivery of Refund Advance after IRS accepted, subject to terms.

The IRS has announced January 26, 2026 as the start of the filing season. That’s when they’ll begin accepting and processing 2025 tax returns — which means now’s a great time to start getting organized.

The good news? You don’t have to figure it out alone. From gathering your W-2s and receipts to choosing how to file and getting your refund as quickly as possible, TurboTax has resources and tools to help you every step of the way.

Here’s what you need to know to get started.

Use these tools to understand your taxes and maximize your refund

Get the Facts About Tax Reform

Wondering how the One Big Beautiful Bill affects your taxes? Use our tax reform calculator to see how the changes might impact your refund or what you owe this year.

Understand Your Tax Bracket

Not sure which tax bracket you’re in? Our tax bracket guide breaks down how tax brackets work and what yours means for your refund.

Filing as a Student?

College comes with unique tax considerations. Learn about education credits, loan interest deductions, and how to file when you’re in school.

Calculate Your Capital Gains Tax

Sold stocks, crypto, or other investments? Our capital gains calculator helps you estimate what you might owe — or save.

Should You Itemize or Take the Standard Deduction?

Not sure which route saves you more? Use our standard vs. itemized calculator to compare and find your best option.

Crypto Tax Calculator

Bought, sold, or traded cryptocurrency? Our crypto tax calculator helps you figure out what you owe from your digital assets.

Self-Employed? Maximize Your Deductions

Freelancers, gig workers, and small business owners: use our self-employed tax calculator to see what deductions you can claim.

Tax Documents Checklist

Make sure you have everything you need before you file. Our tax documents checklist helps you gather your W-2s, 1099s, receipts, and more.

Get your tax refund up to 5 days early* with TurboTax 

File with TurboTax and get your federal refund delivered to your bank account up to 5 days before IRS delivery for a fee. Terms apply.

Get a Refund Advance** for $0 Fees and 0% Interest

Refund Advance is a loan issued by WebBank and available to TurboTax users, with $0 loan fees, 0% APR, and no impact to your credit score. Depending on your eligibility, the size of your refund and whether an expert files for your return, it allows you to access a loan of $250 – $10,000 instantly*** in as little as 30 seconds after the IRS accepts your return which starts in late January.

Funds are deposited into your Credit Karma Money™ checking account¹. Once they’re available, you can access them immediately with your virtual Credit Karma Visa® Debit Card², and begin using your physical card once it arrives. Your checking account also comes with benefits like no monthly maintenance fees³, and access to your paycheck up to 2 days early⁴,  so you can manage your money with flexibility. Learn more.

Disclosures:

*Money movement services 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, 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. 

** 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.

*** IRS acceptance times vary. Most customers receive funds within 5 minutes of acceptance.

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, 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.

¹ For Credit Karma Money Spend (checking) account: Credit Karma is not a bank. Banking services provided by MVB Bank, Inc., Member FDIC. Maximum balance and transfer limits apply.

² Credit Karma Visa® Debit Card issued by MVB Bank, Inc., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. Visa terms and conditions apply.

³ Other fees may apply. Please see Credit Karma Money Spend Account Terms & Disclosures for more information.

⁴ Early access to paycheck is compared to standard payroll electronic deposit and is dependent on and subject to payor submitting payroll information to the bank before release date. Payor may not submit paycheck early.