7 reasons to file your tax return early

^{Fortune cookie tax filing wisdom (Photo by Kay Bell)}

IRS.gov’s Free File opened last week. Although the tax agency hasn’t released any filing numbers yet, it’s a safe bet that a lot of people already have completed their 2025 tax returns.

Most early filers send the Internal Revenue Service their annual tax returns because they are expecting a refund. But that’s only one reason to file your taxes sooner rather than later.

Here are seven.

1. To get your federal tax refund sooner.

You knew this would be number one, especially during these challenging economic times that have forced some folks to stock their pantries via buy now, pay later plans. Getting a big tax refund, which government officials are predicting, as soon as possible definitely would be welcome.

Filing as early as you can be the best way to get your tax cash quickly. But it’s only step one. You also should file electronically and tell the IRS to directly deposit the money into a bank or other financial institution account. That should mean your refund will show up in that account within 21 days of processing.

2. To beat identity thieves to the punch.

The IRS and its Security Summit partners have made good progress in recent years in reducing tax identity theft and associated tax refund fraud. But the crooks are still out there. You can preempt them by filing before they do. When the IRS gets your real Form 1040 first and is done with it, any tax ID thieves who try to file under your name and Social Security number will discover that you beat them to the tax punch!

As an added protection step, especially if you can’t get to your 1040 as quickly as you’d like, consider using an Identity Protection Personal Identification Number, or IP PIN, to further thwart would-be ID thieves. Any taxpayer can apply for this special six-digit code, which the IRS uses to verify that it is indeed you who has filed your tax return so it won’t accept any electronic return subsequently filed in your name.

3. To work on your state taxes.

I live in Texas, one of the handful of states that doesn’t impose any type of personal income tax. But the majority of Americans have to also file state tax returns in addition to their federal forms.

In most of these tax-collecting states (and the District of Columbia), your federal return is the foundation for filing your state and local taxes. The sooner you finish your IRS Form 1040, the sooner you can tackle your state and local tax filing counterparts, and get any refund you might be due from those tax jurisdictions.

4. To figure out how to pay what you owe.

Most folks who put off filing do so because they know they owe taxes. But filing early actually can help in this situation. The sooner you fill out your Form 1040, the sooner you’ll know exactly how much you owe the U.S. Treasury. Then you’ll have time to figure out how to come up with the cash.

Do you need to raid an emergency savings account? Or borrow from a family member? Or put it on a credit card (don’t forget to take those fees and interest into account!)? You also can explore the IRS’ various extended payment options if you can’t come up with the full amount at once.

Those payment decisions are separate from your filing. You aren’t required to pay your due taxes when you file. You can wait until the actual April 15 Tax Day to pay Uncle Sam.

5. To talk with a tax professional.

You started working on your tax return early and discovered it’s not as easy as you had hoped. Since the 2026 filing season hasn’t even officially started, you have some time to find professional tax help.

Of course, when you do hire a reputable tax preparer, the actual early filing of your Form 1040 is likely off the table. Tax pros currently are working with clients who came to them well before filing season started, so you’re going to the end of the line. But at least you realized you needed help early and are in the system.

6. To get your tax information into the system.

Big life events usually involve money, such as a home mortgage or assistance in paying college costs. And those funding sources typically want to look at your tax returns to verify the entries on the loan documents.

Getting your return to the IRS early can help ensure those loan (and other tax-related) transactions go as smoothly as possible. The tax paperwork will help you more easily answer any lender or financial aid questions, and the IRS filings will substantiate your financial requests.

7. To reduce tax-related stress.

Even when your taxes are simple and you know you got your filing right, most taxpayers still freak out a bit when it comes to this annual task. That’s why tax time surveys always include outrageous things people say they’d rather do — serve on a jury, swim with sharks, have a root canal, be celibate for the rest of tax season — than file their taxes.

If you suffer from even a bit of tax anxiety, what are you waiting for (aside from the W-2s, 1099s, and other documents you need to fill out your return accurately)? If you have received all the official tax statements you need, get this daunting task done sooner rather than later.

Then go and spend your more stress-free time doing things you enjoy!

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