Special to IFN

On Monday, January 26, along with the Internal Revenue Service, the N.C. Department of Revenue officially opened the 2026 individual income tax filing season and began accepting 2025 returns. Taxpayers who file state returns electronically will receive acknowledgements.

For calendar year taxpayers, the due date to file income tax returns is Wednesday, April 15, 2026. Eligible taxpayers are encouraged to file and pay electronically. It is more secure, convenient, and faster than paper filing. Free and low-cost online filing options for qualified taxpayers are available.

Although NCDOR began accepting returns Monday, the Department must process tax returns to identify potential identity theft and refund fraud before it can begin issuing refunds.

Once processing begins, the “Where’s My Refund” application will be available on the agency website for taxpayers to check their refund status.