The IRS has not yet announced when the 2027 tax filing season will open. In each of the last four years, it began accepting returns on a Monday between January 23 and January 29, and it usually announces the date in early January. That points to a likely opening in late January 2027, though that’s an estimate, not an announcement. The filing deadline for individual returns, including sole proprietors and single-member LLCs, is April 15, 2027.
If you own a business in Florida, the opening date matters less than the deadlines that come first: W-2s and 1099-NECs are due February 1, and S-corporation and partnership returns are due March 15. This guide covers what’s known, what’s still an estimate, and what to finish in the next few weeks so you’re ready the day filing opens.
When Does Tax Season Officially Start?
Tax season begins when the IRS starts accepting and processing returns for the prior tax year. Here’s the recent pattern:
| Filing Season | IRS Began Accepting Returns |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Monday, January 23, 2023 |
| 2024 | Monday, January 29, 2024 |
| 2025 | Monday, January 27, 2025 |
| 2026 | Monday, January 26, 2026 |
| 2027 | Not yet announced |
For 2026, the IRS announced its January 26 opening on January 8, so a similar announcement for 2027 would likely come in early January. Because the IRS has opened on a Monday in late January each year, many tax professionals expect something similar in 2027, but plan around the announcement, not the guess.
Can You File Before the IRS Opens Season?
You can prepare your return early, and many tax software providers and professionals will accept your information in advance and transmit it when the IRS opens. You can’t actually file electronically until the official start date. Business returns sometimes open earlier. For the 2026 season, the IRS began accepting business returns electronically on January 13, before individual returns.
What Are the Key 2027 Tax Deadlines?
| Date | Deadline |
|---|---|
| January 15, 2027 | Final 2026 estimated tax payment |
| February 1, 2027 | W-2s to employees and the SSA; 1099-NECs to contractors and the IRS |
| March 15, 2027 | S-corporation and partnership returns |
| April 15, 2027 | Individual, sole proprietor, single-member LLC, and C-corporation returns; Q1 2027 estimated payment |
| October 15, 2027 | Extended individual and C-corporation returns |
January 31, 2027 falls on a Sunday, so the W-2 and 1099-NEC deadline moves to Monday, February 1. Our small business tax calendar for 2027 lists every federal and Florida date.
What Should Small Businesses Do Before Tax Season Opens?
Use the weeks before filing opens to get your records in order:
- Reconcile every account through December 31. Our year-end bookkeeping checklist shows the order to work in.
- Clear uncategorized transactions, using our guide to fixing uncategorized transactions.
- Total contractor payments and collect missing W-9s, using the $2,000 threshold explained in our 1099 threshold guide.
- Prepare payroll records and W-2s, including tips and overtime reporting if it applies.
- Plan how you’ll e-file 1099s, since the IRS FIRE system is retiring. Our IRIS filing guide explains the change.
- Gather your tax documents, using our checklist of what to bring to your tax preparer.
What Should You Do Before December 31?
Some of the best tax decisions have year-end deadlines, long before filing opens. Equipment generally must be placed in service by December 31, retirement plans may need to be established by then, and estimated payments need to be reviewed. Our year-end tax planning guide and small business tax deductions guide walk through them.
Why File Early Once Season Opens?
Filing early gives you more time to fix problems, pay any balance on your schedule, and reduce the risk of identity theft using your information. It also helps with cash planning, since you’ll know your tax bill well before April. If you owe, remember that an extension only gives you more time to file, not more time to pay.
Does Florida Have Its Own Tax Season?
Florida has no state personal income tax, so there’s no state individual return to file. Florida businesses still have state items, including sales tax, reemployment tax, and the LLC annual report, which opens January 1 and is due by May 1. Our Florida sales tax filing guide covers sales tax.
How Can a Bookkeeper Help You Get Ready?
Tax season is far less stressful when your books are current. A bookkeeper keeps your accounts reconciled and your reports ready, so your tax preparer can start immediately. If you’re behind, our QuickBooks clean up and catch up services fix the backlog first, and our monthly bookkeeping services keep you ready all year. Our Business Tax Preparation team handles the filing, and you can browse our full range of services.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does tax season start in 2027? The IRS hasn’t announced the date yet. It has opened in late January each recent year, usually on a Monday, so expect something similar in 2027.
When will the IRS announce the 2027 filing season start date? Typically in early January. For 2026, the announcement came on January 8.
When is the tax filing deadline in 2027? April 15, 2027, for individual returns, including sole proprietors and single-member LLCs.
When are S-corporation and partnership returns due? March 15, 2027.
When are W-2s and 1099-NECs due in 2027? February 1, 2027, because January 31 falls on a Sunday.
What is the extended filing deadline for 2027? October 15, 2027, for individuals who request an extension. An extension doesn’t extend the time to pay.
Can I file my taxes before the IRS opens? You can prepare your return early, but you can’t e-file with the IRS until the official start date.
Do businesses file before individuals? Sometimes. In 2026, the IRS started accepting business returns on January 13, before individual returns.
Does Florida have a state income tax return? No. Florida has no state personal income tax, though businesses have other state filings.
What should I do now to prepare for tax season? Reconcile your accounts, clear uncategorized transactions, total contractor payments, collect W-9s, and gather your tax documents.
Why does the IRS opening date matter? It determines when you can e-file and when refunds can start, but your deadlines don’t change.
Should I wait for the IRS to open before getting organized? No. Getting your records ready now makes filing faster and more accurate once season opens.
Get Ready Before the Rush
Tax season is easier when you start early. Book a free consultation with our Sanford, FL team, or visit our homepage to learn more.
This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Confirm your situation with a tax professional.
