2026 tax season is nearly here, and the IRS is encouraging Americans to start gathering and organizing their tax records now to ensure accurate returns and avoid refund delays.

“It’s not too early to get ready for the 2026 tax season,” the IRS said in a “Get Ready” announcement last week.

Taxpayers can visit IRS.gov/GetReady for tips before they file their returns. To start, the IRS recommends collecting:

Bank account information

W-2 forms from employers

1099 forms from banks and other payers

Records of digital asset transactions

But taxpayers should wait to file their returns until they have received all of their tax records, which should happen by the early months of 2026.

The “One Big Beautiful Bill,” signed into law this summer, can have a significant impact on federal ta

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