Get Ready for Tax Season at the Start of the Year
Organizing your documents early can help you file a complete return, identify available deductions and credits, and request your refund sooner if one is due. For many families, starting early also provides time to review tax changes that may affect the 2026 tax return, which is generally filed in 2027.
This article is intended for U.S. citizens and permanent residents who file their federal taxes as residents. Benefits depend on each taxpayer’s circumstances, and not everyone will qualify.
If You Are Due a Refund, Filing Early May Help
When you provide your complete documents early, there is more time to review your income, tax forms, dependents, bank information, and potential credits before filing. An electronically filed return accepted by the IRS with direct deposit is generally processed faster. The IRS says most refunds are issued within 21 days, although some returns require additional review.
This does not guarantee a specific refund date. If you claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the refundable portion of the Child Tax Credit (ACTC), the law prevents the IRS from issuing your refund before mid-February. This delay applies to the entire refund.
Additional Deduction for People Age 65 or Older
For tax years 2025 through 2028, a person who is age 65 or older by December 31 may qualify for an additional deduction of up to $6,000. If both spouses qualify and file a joint return, the maximum may be $12,000.
This deduction is in addition to the existing additional standard deduction for older taxpayers. For 2026, that additional standard deduction is $1,650, or $2,050 for an unmarried person who is not a surviving spouse. The special deduction of up to $6,000 begins to phase out when modified adjusted gross income exceeds $75,000 for a single filer or $150,000 for a couple filing jointly. A valid Social Security number is also required to claim it; married taxpayers must file jointly.
Child Tax Credit and the Birth of a Baby
For tax year 2026, the Child Tax Credit may be worth up to $2,200 for each qualifying child. If the credit exceeds the tax owed, some families may qualify to receive up to $1,700 as a refundable portion, subject to the credit’s requirements and sufficient earned income. This is not an automatic payment: the age, dependency, residency, and identification requirements must be met.
If your child was born in 2025, check whether the child was properly included on your return for that year. If your child was born in 2026, the child may qualify on your 2026 return, which will be filed in 2027. A baby born during the year may meet the residency test if the child lived with you in your home for the entire time the child was alive, but all other requirements must also be met. To claim the Child Tax Credit, the parent claiming the credit and the child must have valid Social Security numbers for employment, issued by the applicable filing deadline.
Trump Accounts for Certain Children
Trump Accounts are investment accounts with special tax treatment for minors. A child with a valid Social Security number who will not turn 18 before the end of the year in which the account is established may be eligible for an account.
In addition, a child who is a U.S. citizen, was born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028, and has a valid Social Security number may qualify for a one-time $1,000 contribution from the federal government. The family must elect this contribution; it is not money paid directly to the parents or included in their tax refund. Even if the Treasury has automatically opened an account, the family must complete the process to claim it and request the contribution, using Form 4547 or the channels identified by the IRS.
Inflation Adjustments and Other Credits
For 2026, the standard deduction increases to $16,100 for a single filer, $32,200 for a married couple filing jointly, and $24,150 for someone who qualifies as head of household. Tax brackets and certain credit limits are also adjusted for inflation.
For example, the maximum EITC amounts are adjusted for 2026: $4,427 for one qualifying child, $7,316 for two, $8,231 for three or more, and $664 for taxpayers without qualifying children. The amount a person may receive depends on income, filing status, and other eligibility requirements.
The Child and Dependent Care Credit also changes for 2026. It may cover between 20% and 50% of eligible expenses, up to a maximum credit of $1,500 for one qualifying person or $3,000 for two or more. Generally, the expenses must have been paid so that the taxpayer—and their spouse, if filing jointly—could work or look for work.
Start Gathering Your Documents Now
Do not wait until the last minute to organize your tax forms. Gather your W-2s, Forms 1099, dependent information, child care expenses, mortgage interest statements, charitable contribution records, estimated tax payments, and bank information. If you had a baby, turned 65, changed jobs, or experienced another family or financial change, let us know so we can review how it may affect your return.
Preparing early gives us more time to review your situation and file a complete return when the filing season opens. If you are entitled to a refund, you can request it as soon as the IRS begins accepting returns for that tax year. If you owe taxes, knowing the result earlier can help you plan your payment.
To organize your documents or request a consultation with Two Hundred Global Financial Solutions, LLC (200GFS), call +1 (954) 683-3578 or visit www.200gfs.com.
Juan V. Fanti, MBA, CAA, PA
Two Hundred Global Financial Solutions, LLC













