Maryland Comptroller Brooke E. Lierman announced the start of the state’s 2026 tax return filing season, with return processing beginning the week of January 26 and expected to ramp up on February 2.
The Office of the Comptroller said it will again use a controlled rollout to test fraud detection systems and ensure accurate processing, noting that electronic filing remains the fastest option for most taxpayers.
During the previous tax season, the agency processed about three million returns and issued roughly $3 billion in refunds, with electronically filed returns averaging under three days for processing compared with more than two weeks for paper filings. State officials said taxpayers can access assistance through online services, phone support, and in person or virtual appointments at Comptroller branch offices, while also encouraging eligible filers to claim credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit during the 2026 filing season.
