The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that the federal tax filing season will officially begin on Monday, January 26, 2026.

For its part, the North Carolina Department of Revenue (NCDOR) reported that it will begin accepting Corporate, Franchise, and Partnership Income tax returns for fiscal year 2025 starting January 18.

Regarding individual tax returns, although the official date for 2026 has not yet been published directly on the NCDOR website, historically this state filing period occurs very close to the end of January, aligning with the start of the federal tax season.

For those who file their taxes on a calendar year basis, the deadline is Wednesday, April 15, 2026, at both the federal and state levels. This applies to individuals, families, and many businesses.

Changes in federal taxes

This year, new provisions of the federal law known as "One, Big, Beautiful Bill "which could impact taxes, credits, and deductions.

Amongst the changes The most notable ones are:

  • New Annex 1-A (Schedule 1-A) which will allow you to claim new deductions, such as:
  • Not paying taxes on tips
  • Not paying taxes on overtime
  • Deduction for interest on auto loans
  • Enhanced tax deduction for seniors

In addition, taxpayers can create or access their IRS Online Individual Account where they can review balances, payments, tax records and more.

Direct deposits

The IRS recommends having a bank account to receive refunds via direct deposit, as the federal government is phasing out paper checks as part of an executive order to modernize payments.

Like the IRS, the NCDOR recommends filing taxes electronically, as it is safer, more convenient, and faster than doing so on paper.

Forms 1099 and digital assets

Some people will receive new informational forms, such as:

  • Form 1099-K for payments received through apps, cards, or online platforms
  • Form 1099-DA related to digital assets

Importantly, All income subject to tax must be reported even if one of these forms is not received.

Where is my refund?

The tool “Where’s My Refund?”  The IRS allows you to check the refund status:

  • Roughly 24h  after submitting electronically
  • About 4 weeks  then if it is sent on paper

Beware of scams and fraudulent trainers

The IRS warns about tax-related scams and fraud . It is recommended:

  • Do not share personal information over the phone, by text message, or by email.
  • Verify that the tax preparer is trustworthy
  • Consult the IRS guide to choosing an ethical professional

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Free tax preparation help

There are free programs for eligible individuals, including:

RESUME and TCE Programs with certified volunteers offering free tax preparation

IRS Free File , available to qualified contributors

IRS fillable forms for those who prefer to do their own taxes

MilTax , for members of the armed forces and some veterans.

After the storm

A year ago, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina. The Latino community responded with something stronger than the storm: solidarity. 

🎧 In this episode, learn how Latino organizations transformed crisis into resilience.

▶️Press play to listen!

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Entrepreneur and co-founder of Enlace Latino NC. Argentine journalist with more than 20 national journalism awards from the National Association of Hispanic Publications of the United States (NAHP).

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