The IRS accepts e-file of individual and business returns for the current year tax return and the two prior years through the MeF system (Modernized e-File system). During the 2025 tax year, you can e-file a 2025, 2024, or 2023 return from the corresponding year of Drake Tax. All other prior years must be paper-filed. The IRS has an annual maintenance period (called a "blackout") during which certain types of returns are not accepted electronically. This is also referred to as the e-filing shutdown or cutover schedule.

Individual Returns

The individual shutdown for tax year 2024 began on Friday, December 26, 2025 at 11:59 am EST.

• This shutdown prevents e-filing of individual returns for all years.

• Ack retrieval must be completed by 11:59 pm EST on 12/26/25. If you do not retrieve your acks by that time, you will have to wait until MeF opens for production in January 2026.

• The IRS will begin accepting individual returns on January 26, 2026.

Business Returns

The business shutdown for tax year 2024 began on Friday, December 26, 2025 at 11:59 am EST.

• This shutdown prevents e-filing of business returns for all years.

• Ack retrieval must be completed by 11:59 pm EST on 12/26/25. If you do not retrieve your acks by that time, you will have to wait until MeF opens for production in January 2026.

• The IRS will begin accepting most business tax returns at 9:00 am EST on January 13, 2026. 1041, 709, and 1120-H returns will be available for e-filing beginning January 18, 2026.

States

States can continue to use all the service requests necessary to retrieve and process state submissions except during the shutdown activities shown above. MeF recommends that states adjust their processing schedule in order to retrieve submissions in time to validate returns and submit acknowledgments.

Some states, such as California, still allow for e-filing of state-only (direct) individual returns even when the IRS is shutdown.

More MeF service information may be available at the IRS MeF Status Page.