Income Tax: 2026 Tax Return Filing Calendar
Every year, the month of April marks the start of the income tax filing campaign, during which all taxpayers must submit their tax return. Below is the complete 2026 schedule for declaring your 2025 income, along with the key information you need to know.
Table of Contents
- What changes in 2026
- What are the deadlines for filing your income tax return in 2026?
- Online tax return filing: service opens on April 9, 2026
- Paper tax return filing (if you cannot file online): until May 19, 2026
- When will your tax notice be available?
- Tax refund or balance due: how does it work?
- If you are entitled to a refund
- If you still have tax to pay
- Additional resources
What Changes in 2026
The 2026 tax filing campaign officially started on April 9, 2026, with the opening of the service for declaring 2025 income.
This year also includes several updates regarding income tax returns and the way tax notices are provided.
What Are the Deadlines for Filing Your Income Tax Return in 2026?
Online Tax Return Filing: Service Opens on April 9, 2026
The online tax filing service opens on Thursday, April 9, 2026, and remains available until the filing deadlines set according to geographical zones based on department numbers.
Online Filing Deadlines by Zone
| Department Number | Online Filing Deadline |
|---|---|
| Departments no. 01 to 19 (Zone 1) and non-residents | Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 11:59 PM |
| Departments no. 20 to 54 (Zone 2) | Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 11:59 PM |
| Departments no. 55 to 974 and 976 (Zone 3) | Thursday, June 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM |
Paper Tax Return Filing (If You Cannot File Online): Until May 19, 2026
Since 2019, all tax households are required to file their income tax returns online. However, taxpayers who are unable to complete the process online may still use the paper tax return form.
Paper tax returns are sent between March 27 and April 17, 2026, exclusively to taxpayers who filed a paper return in 2025.
The deadline for submitting paper tax returns is Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at 11:59 PM, including for French residents living abroad. The postmark date will serve as proof of submission.
You may file a paper tax return if one of the following situations applies:
- your primary residence does not have Internet access,
- your residence has Internet access, but you are unable to complete the online filing process.
When Will Your Tax Notice Be Available?
Except in specific situations, your income tax notice will be available in your personal account on impots.gouv.fr between July 24 and July 31, 2026.
The availability dates depend on your tax situation, as detailed below.
| Your Situation | Tax Notice Available in Your Finances Publiques Account | If You Continue Receiving a Paper Tax Notice |
|---|---|---|
| You are entitled to a refund | Between July 24 and July 31, 2026 | Between July 23 and August 28, 2026 |
| You no longer have any tax to pay | Between July 24 and July 31, 2026 | Between July 23 and August 28, 2026 |
| You still have tax to pay | Between July 24 and July 31, 2026 | Between July 23 and August 20, 2026 |
Good to Know
If you file your income tax return online, you will receive an email notification informing you that your tax notice is available in your personal Finances Publiques account on impots.gouv.fr.
Starting in 2026, digital delivery of tax notices becomes the standard method for all users, while paper tax notices become optional.
Tax Refund or Balance Due: How Does It Work?
The income tax return completed in 2026 allows the French tax authorities to assess your tax situation for the year 2025.
Once your final tax amount has been calculated and the amounts already paid through withholding tax in 2025 have been deducted, three possible outcomes may occur:
- you are entitled to a refund, for example if too much tax was withheld in 2025 compared to the actual amount due,
- you have no additional tax to pay,
- you still have a balance due, for example if insufficient tax was paid during 2025, if you received an excessive advance payment of a tax reduction or tax credit in January 2026, or if you did not update your withholding tax rate in 2025 following an increase in income.
If You Are Entitled to a Refund
If you are eligible for a refund, it will generally be issued on July 24 or July 31, 2026.
The refund will be transferred directly to the bank account registered with the tax authorities. If no bank account information has been provided, a cheque will be sent by mail and must be deposited with your bank.
If You Still Have Tax to Pay
The remaining tax amount will be withdrawn from the bank account you provided to the tax authorities, which can be viewed or updated in your Finances Publiques account under the section “Manage my withholding tax.”
Payment terms depend on the amount due:
- a single payment on September 25, 2026, if the amount is less than or equal to €300,
- four monthly payments from September 25 to December 28, 2026, if the amount exceeds €300.
The exact amounts and payment schedule will be detailed on your tax notice available in your personal Finances Publiques account on impots.gouv.fr.
Each payment appearing on your bank statement will be identified by the source “DIRECTION GENERALE DES FINANCES PUBLIQUES” and the label “SOLDE IMPOT REVENUS 2025 N DE FACTURE XXX”.
