Key Takeaways
- Overtime earners and tip recipients filed taxes earlier and were more aware of 2025 tax law changes.
- Most filers found new deductions and credits easy to claim, but uptake lagged behind eligibility.
- Despite supporting recent tax cuts, two-thirds of respondents view debt and deficits as a serious problem and want lawmakers to act to reduce the deficit.
Tax Filing Trends
According to a recent survey conducted by the Bipartisan Policy Center and Cygnal, tax filing trends for the 2026 season revealed interesting insights. Overtime earners and tip recipients were more likely to file their taxes early, possibly due to increased awareness of the new tips and overtime deductions introduced in the 2025 tax law.
Ease of Filing
The majority of respondents found filing their taxes to be similar in difficulty to previous years. However, those with tip or overtime income were more likely to report finding the process easier. While most found claiming new deductions and credits from the 2025 tax law easy, uptake of these benefits lagged behind eligibility.
AI Use in Tax Preparation
A notable trend from the survey was the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in tax preparation. Nearly one in five respondents reported using AI this year, with 11% using it for the first time. Many others expressed interest in using AI for future tax filing tasks, indicating a potential shift towards tech-based solutions in tax preparation.
Refund Trends
Over half of respondents reported receiving a federal tax refund this season, with a significant portion noting that their refund was larger than the previous year. This suggests that despite concerns about debt and deficits, taxpayers are still benefiting from tax refunds as a form of financial relief.
Overall, the survey results shed light on the attitudes and behaviors of American taxpayers during the 2026 tax filing season. From early filers to AI users, it is evident that the landscape of tax preparation is evolving, with individuals adapting to changes in tax laws and seeking ways to streamline the filing process.