Just when you thought tax season couldn't get worse, the new IRS commissioner dropped a bomb: filing might not start until Presidents Day 2026.

That's February 16—potentially three weeks later than usual. For early filers counting on quick refunds, this could mean waiting until March for their money.

What the Commissioner Said (And Quickly Regretted)

Billy Long, the fresh IRS commissioner, told tax professionals at a Utah conference that the 2026 filing season would likely start around Presidents Day. He claimed he pushed for earlier, but staff insisted they needed every single day to prepare.

The IRS immediately went into damage control mode. Within 24 hours, they issued a vague statement that basically said "nothing's final yet" while not denying Long's comments. Classic government backpedaling.

Why the Delay?

Two massive problems collide here. First, the IRS just lost 25% of its staff to budget cuts. Fewer people means everything takes longer—from processing returns to answering phones.

Second, Congress passed major tax changes in July, including new deductions for seniors, overtime pay, and auto loan interest. While July sounds early enough to implement changes, doing it with skeleton crews is another story.

"If the IRS staff says they need until Presidents Day in 2026, I would take them at their word," said Mark Luscombe, principal analyst for Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting.

What This Means for Your Refund

Simple math: later filing means later refunds. If you usually file in late January and get your refund by mid-February, add three weeks to everything. That February refund becomes a March arrival. Your spring vacation fund might not appear until actual spring.

This hits hardest for people who depend on refunds for bills. That annual windfall many use to catch up on debt or make major purchases gets pushed deeper into the year.

The History of Delays

Tax season delays aren't unprecedented. In 2013, Congress passed tax changes on January 2, forcing the IRS to phase in different filing dates. Some couldn't file until March.

The pandemic pushed 2021's start to February 12. But those had clear external causes. This potential delay stems from internal chaos—staff cuts meeting new requirements.

The Political Dance

The IRS faces a brutal reality. They must implement complex new tax breaks including:

• $6,000 deduction for qualifying seniors

• Overtime pay deductions

• Auto loan interest deductions

All while operating with 25% fewer employees. It's like asking a restaurant to add 10 new menu items after firing a quarter of the kitchen staff.

Tax professional Janet Holtzblatt from the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center notes the July 4 law signing "typically would give the IRS sufficient time." But that assumes full staffing, which no longer exists.

What Happens Next

The IRS will officially announce the filing date around January—roughly five months from now. Until then, tax professionals will speculate and worry while the IRS pretends everything's fine.

Best case scenario, they’ll pull together and start on time. Realistically, some delay happens, whether announced or through system "glitches." Worst case scenario is long was right, and we're all waiting until Presidents Day.

Prepare for the Worst

Start gathering tax documents early. Don't count on that refund arriving when it usually does. If you typically pay, at least you get three extra weeks to procrastinate.

The bigger concern is this might become the new normal. With continued staff cuts and Congress's love of last-minute tax changes, delayed filing seasons could become standard.

For now, mark Presidents Day on your calendar—not for furniture sales, but potentially for finally filing your taxes. In 2026, even death and taxes might arrive fashionably late.