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Starting January 26th, the IRS is accepting tax returns. “Accepting.”

They'd like to know how much you made last year. They already know, by the way. They just want to see if you know. Who said the government doesn’t have a sense of humor?

For typical employment, you should receive your W-2 from your employer by February 2nd. If you did gig work, you’ll probably get a 1099 (if it isn’t under the table). If you don’t know what either of those are hold tight.

April 15th is the deadline to file. If you owe money and don't file, they charge penalties. If they owe you money and you don't file, they just keep it. The IRS embraces double standards.

There are some new tax rules at play this year for tipped workers and more. 

Taxes are designed to be confusing. 

And I’m fully serious, this is not a conspiracy.

If you're early in your career, you're probably either overthinking this or pretending it doesn't exist. Neither of those need to be the case.

You do need to file taxes, and it doesn’t need to be a horrible experience. So how should you prep?

Taxes are a scavenger hunt. The IRS wants your money receipts for the year, and you have to prove your receipts match theirs.

Your W-2 (from your job), your 1099s (if you did freelance/gig work), your 1098-T (from your school if you paid tuition), and your 1098-E (from your loan servicer if you paid student loan interest).

They show up by early February. Check your email, your student portal, your payroll system. Gather them now so you’re not scrambling in April. 

If you’re struggling to find the documents, email the HR person at your job, or the equivalent person (support) at the other places you need this documentation from to get guidance on how to get the forms. 

Sending this email in February gives you plenty of time.

If you made more than $15,750 in 2025, yes.

If you made less than that but your employer withheld taxes from your paycheck, you should file anyway. Filing can get you a refund. The IRS doesn’t pity those who don’t file. Or anybody probably. I don’t think they feel anything.

Here's where people get stuck. You have options, and they all work. The question is which one fits.

You're choosing between:

Each has trade-offs. Some are faster. Some hold your hand more. Some try to upsell you on services you don't need.

But mechanically, the process is the same:

You enter numbers from your W-2 and 1099s. You answer questions about deductions (student loan interest, tuition credits, etc.). The software translates your answers into tax forms. You don't need to know tax law. You just need to know where your numbers are.

DEFINITION: Deduction: Deductions on taxes are certain expenses or amounts that the tax law lets you subtract from your income so that you pay tax on a smaller amount. For example, the amount that you paid in student loan interest can be subtracted from your taxable income.

The system tells you if you're getting a refund or if you owe money. If the number looks insane, maybe double-check your entries. Due to the part-time nature of employment for students, it is common for you to be getting a refund (though not guaranteed).

Submit electronically. Paper filing takes months. Electronic filing takes days.

Refunds hit your account in 1-3 weeks if you chose direct deposit. If you owe money, you pay by April 15th. The IRS accepts online payments. They don’t take kindly to being ghosted.

There are several tools that make filing your taxes easier.

For people with income under $89k. Free software from TurboTax, H&R Block, and others. Find it at IRS.gov/freefile. Works great, but they'll try to upsell you, so just say NO. You select a trusted partner of theirs, create an account, and go through a process similar to what you’d do with Turbotax or H&R Block.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance for income of $69,000 or less, persons with disabilities, or limited English speakers. Free in-person help from IRS-certified volunteers. Find locations at here. Great if you want a human to walk you through it. Limited hours though, so appointments fill up fast.

TurboTax, H&R Block, etc. These also have free versions (they constantly try to upsell so be careful) for simple tax returns, which you probably have. That said, if your taxes are more complex, these will cost between $30 all the way to $200+ depending on the complexity and the level of service they provide. 

These are generally more useful if you have more complexity in your finances. Owning a business, multiple W-2s and deductions. Someone will do your taxes entirely for you, but the cost can be $200-500+

Use free options first. Pay only if you need support.

Also, quick reminder that I am not sponsored by any of the tools I note here. I wish I was! These are just the tools I use.

Gather your tax documents this week.

By this point they should have all been sent to you. If they haven’t then start emailing/calling people.

Check your email for W-2s and 1099s. Log into your student portal for your 1098-T. Check your loan servicer's site for your 1098-E.

Be the Sherlock Holmes of tax documents. Nobody’s reading that book, but maybe you’ll feel cooler.

IMAGE: Sherlock Holmes “The tax documents are afoot, Watson. Watson? This is a mystery!”

Put them all in one folder, digital or physical. Digital is better for backing things up, but make sure it’s a secure spot and not your Instagram or anything.

The earlier you collect them, the earlier you can file. The earlier you file, the earlier you get your refund (if you're owed one).

Don't wait until April to start looking. 

Do it now and thank yourself in April. ;)

Thank you so much for being a part of this newsletter. I am grateful to write to you weekly and I hope this helps you feel more confident with your finances.

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