Some dread doing taxes and wait until the last minute. But millions of others file early to get their tax refunds. What to expect in tax season 2025.

The Internal Revenue Service starts tax season 2025 Monday with some changes and an expansion of the Direct File program. Why it matters: The free online tax-filing program is reshaping how millions of Americans do their taxes.

If you receive a tax refund of over $1,000, you might have paid too much in taxes throughout the year to the government. With inflation still too high and many of us living paycheck-to-paycheck or leaning on credit to get by, that tax refund might have been more helpful throughout the year.