Maryland Tax Season Opens

Comptroller Lierman Announces Start of 2026 Tax Season in Maryland Agency encourages online filing, expects refund issuance to begin February 2 ANNAPOLIS, Md. (January 26, 2026) — Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman today announced the opening of Maryland’s 2026 Tax Return Filing Season. Comptroller Lierman shared that the Office of the Comptroller will perform, as always, a controlled rollout of processing and refunds. Return processing will begin the week of January 26 and is expected to ramp up beginning February 2.  “Our team is ready to receive and process personal income tax returns for Maryland taxpayers. In the first weeks of the tax season, as always, we will test and update our fraud detection models and other systems to ensure processing can happen as quickly and accurately as possible, and that Marylanders receive their refunds,” Comptroller Lierman said. During the 2025 tax filing season, the Office of the Comptroller processed an estimated three million returns for tax year 2024 and issued an estimated $3 billion in tax returns for more than two million taxpayers. Delays in tax processing and returns are often due to missing information, errors that need to be addressed, review for possible fraud, or additional time needed to process paper returns. Electronic filing can help many taxpayers avoid some delays and receive their refunds quickly. “I encourage Marylanders to file their tax returns electronically because it is the quickest, most secure, and most convenient option,” said Chief Deputy Comptroller

Andy Schaufele. “Not only will you avoid delays in processing or receiving refunds, but filing electronically also protects your personal and financial information in ways that paper filing cannot.” Last tax season, the agency took, on average, less than 3 days to process electronically-filed returns. The average processing time for paper returns last tax filing season was 16.9 days. In addition to accepting returns through tax filing services, Maryland currently has a free i-File system for personal income tax filing. Tax Filing Assistance and Support Marylanders who need assistance filing their taxes or resolving a tax issue have several convenient options. They can visit http://www.MarylandComptroller.gov/help to access the MyCOMConnect portal for secure, convenient online support. Taxpayers also have the option to call the Taxpayer Services Division at 1-800- MDTAXES (1-800-638-2937) toll-free between 8:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. between February 2 and April 15, 2026. Filers can also visit or schedule a virtual appointment with one of the 11 Comptroller of Maryland branch offices across Maryland. The offices include a new location in Baltimore County and an office in Bel Air that is expected to open in February. Walk-ins are welcome at all locations; however, tax preparation appointments must be scheduled online at marylandcomptroller.gov. Offices are closed on January 26 due to inclement weather, but the agency call centers remain open, and virtual tax appointments will be honored. Encouraging Marylanders to Claim Tax Credits During the 2026 tax filing season, the Office of the Comptroller will continue encouraging eligible filers to claim Maryland’s Earned Income Tax Credit, and for parents and caregivers to claim the state Child Tax Credit. The “Earned It” Campaign will continue the partnership between the Maryland Comptroller and the Moore-Miller administration, expanding targeted mailing campaigns

to reach state employees, non-filers, and taxpayers who may have missed out on the credit last year. The campaign also includes informational campaigns with community centers, food banks, libraries, and other partners, as well as paid media campaigns for radio, television, and social media to reach other eligible filers. “The Earned Income and Child Tax Credits are two of the most effective tools we have to support Maryland families and help them to thrive,” said Comptroller Lierman. “This campaign is important because it empowers Marylanders with information they need to reduce what they owe to the government and keep more of what they have earned.” To learn more about the Earned It Campaign, visit https://www.marylandcomptroller.gov/EarnedIt.html ### Media Contacts Robyne McCullough rmccullough@marylandtaxes.gov 410-980-0139 (cell) Adam Abadir aabadir@marylandtaxes.gov 667-408-0768 (cell) Comptroller of Maryland, 80 Calvert Street, Annapolis, Maryland 21401, United States