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Helpful Tax Information
Taxes are due on April 15, 2026, less than two weeks away.
Tax filing season can be the source of many headaches. Below are a few reminders and important resources available to help answer your questions.
IRS issues can be incredibly complicated and getting through to the right people to help can be a challenge.
If you have difficulties working with the IRS, my team may be able to assist. My office phone numbers are:
- (608) 752 - 4050 - Janesville Office
- (262) 654 - 1901 - Kenosha Office
- (262) 637 - 0510 - Racine Office
- (414) 285 - 2120 - St. Francis Office
There are also a number of new tax changes in 2026 that may make life more affordable for you and your family.
Below are some tips and resources that may be helpful this tax season.
Dates and Deadlines
Taxes are due on April 15, 2026, and can be filed with the IRS until that date. If you need more time, follow the instructions here to request an extension until October 15, 2026, to complete your return.
I want to hear from you:
Online Filing and Tax Resources
The IRS highlights free online filing resources for residents looking to submit basic tax returns. These are options for individuals making $89,000 or less annually and can be found on their trusted partners page.
For more complicated returns or for those looking for assistance, the IRS offers tips on choosing a good tax professional here.
Members of the armed services and qualifying veterans can file their federal tax returns using MilTax, a free Department of Defense service designed to offer support for federal and state tax returns for service members.
You can check the status of your refund online using the IRS's online refund tool.
Contacting the IRS
The IRS offers extended office hours at their local offices. To get an in-person appointment or to find the office location nearest you, use their Office Locator Tool on IRS.gov.
Taxpayers can visit IRS.gov 24 hours a day to get answers to tax questions. IRS.gov is the quickest and easiest option to get help. In addition, the IRS's Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA) is a tool that provides answers to several tax law questions specific to individual circumstances.
If you are having difficulties working with the IRS, please contact my office for assistance.
New Tax Changes Increase Refunds
Changes to tax laws made last summer resulted in increased tax refunds for working families and seniors in 2026. These changes include:
- First $15,000 tax free
- $15,750 standard deduction for single filers, up from $14,600
- $31,500 standard deduction for joint filers, up from $29,200
- New $6,000 Senior Deduction
- Low- and Middle-Income seniors, 65+, are eligible
- Phases out beginning at $75,000 for single filers, $150,000 for couples
- Eliminates tax liability for 88% of Social Security recipients
- Permanent, expanded Child Tax Credit at $2,200 per child
- Reduced Tax on Tips
- $25,000 maximum deduction
- Phases out at $150,000 annual income
- Reduced Tax on Overtime
- $12,500 maximum deduction for single filers
- Phases out at $150,000 annual income
- Car Loan Interest Deduction
- Up to $10,000 for qualifying American-made vehicles
Medicaid Fraud Uncovered in Wisconsin
Rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in our federal programs is a top priority of mine. Ensuring federal programs are being utilized for those they were designed to serve is critical.
Unfortunately, fraud is too common all across our country. A Wisconsin woman was recently sentenced for defrauding more than $2.3 million from Medicaid meant to "support at-risk moms and prevent babies from dying."
Markita Barnes was found guilty of federal felonies including healthcare fraud, identity theft, and paying kickbacks, sentenced to up to 121 months in prison and $2.36 million in fines.
According to the Chief Judge, Barnes committed a "staggering amount of fraud." And she used taxpayer dollars to fund a lavish lifestyle including:
- Travel
- Gucci and Louis Vuitton items
- A Rolex
These cases of fraud are unacceptable. Cases like this are why I'm working to protect and strengthen programs like Medicaid for those who they were designed to serve: children, pregnant women, and disabled Americans.
This Congress, I supported changes to federal law that would strengthen Medicaid - these include:
- Commonsense work requirements for able-bodied, childless adults to work, look for work, go to school, or volunteer at least 20 hours per week to receive taxpayer funded benefits
- These reforms will save taxpayers $317 billion over the next ten years
- Wisconsin voters supported these work requirements, with 80% of families voting in favor
- Strengthening eligibility integrity measures to help remove deceased individuals, duplicate enrollees, and individuals who are ineligible for federal programs like Medicaid
- One report found that taxpayers spend $4.3 billion covering the same Medicaid patients twice
- Fully protecting Medicaid for those the program was designed to serve: pregnant women, children, and disabled Americans
As always, feel free to contact my office if you have any questions, want to share an opinion, or are having trouble with a federal agency.
On Wisconsin,
Bryan Steil
Member of Congress
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