Tax Filing Season Is Underway: Here's How It's Going So Far

Tax Filing Season Is Underway: Here's How It's Going So Far

From Talking Tax by Bloomberg Tax

March 11, 2026 · 17 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the current state of the tax filing season, including IRS performance and the impact of recent tax law changes.

There are about five weeks left in tax filing season — the busiest time of year for the IRS and tax preparers. IRS CEO Frank Bisignano told lawmakers earlier this month the tax season has so far been a success, with quick refund turnaround times and a shrinking backlog. That is despite a tumultuous 2025 for the agency, when the IRS lost about a quarter of its workforce to resignation offers, began implementing the GOP's new tax-and-spending law, and managed the fallout of the longest government shutdown in US history. Tom O'Saben, director of tax content and government relations at the National Association of Tax Professionals, said tax preparers also aren't hearing a ton of complaints from clients either. On this episode of Talking Tax, O'Saben joined Bloomberg Tax reporter Erin Slowey to discuss how filing season is going, the impact of changes from the 2025 law, and what to do if you don't have the money to pay taxes by the deadline. "Don't put your head in the sand and say 'I know I am going to owe so I am just not going to file,'" O'Saben said. "That's a bad idea." Do you have feedback on this episode of Talking Tax? Give us a call and leave a voicemail at 703-341-3690.

People in this episode

Guest: Tom O'Saben

Topics covered

  • tax filing season
  • IRS
  • tax preparers
  • government shutdown
  • tax law changes

Keywords

  • tax season
  • refund turnaround
  • tax complaints
  • government shutdown

Mentioned in this episode

Products: IRS services, tax preparation software

Books & works: Talking Tax

Places: US

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