Tax Day is nearly here, but you're in good company if you haven't already filed. As of late March, the IRS had received only about 88 million of the 164 million tax returns it expects to get.

Whether you're struggling to find your W-2, having trouble snagging an appointment with your accountant or just procrastinating because you feel like it, you probably have questions about your taxes. Lucky for you, Money has been covering the 2026 tax season in detail for months.

Here are answers to popular last-minute tax questions.

When are taxes due?

For calendar-year filers, federal income taxes are due to the IRS by April 15. The tax return you're filing in spring 2026 covers income earned in 2025.

Keep in mind that this deadline is a federal one; your state taxes may be due on a different date.

Can I still mail my tax return?

Yes. According to the U.S. Postal Service, the IRS considers a tax return to be filed "on time" if the envelope is addressed to the right place, has the proper postage and is postmarked by April 15 — regardless of when it's actually delivered.

Note that the USPS changed its long-standing postmark policy in December. Rather than a postmark indicating when you dropped mail into a mailbox or gave it to a carrier, postmarks now can reflect when your envelope is actually processed by your local post office. If you're worried about incurring IRS penalties for filing a late tax return, you can visit a post office and request a Postage Validation Imprint or free manual postmark at the counter. You may also want to send your paperwork via Certified Mail or Registered Mail, which come with proof of mailing.

Alternatively, you can use a private delivery service like UPS, FedEx or DHL.

However, the IRS strongly encourages taxpayers to file and pay their taxes online.

Can I file my taxes for free?

Yes — though your income may influence how.

Most taxpayers qualify for IRS Free File, a public-private partnership between the agency and several name-brand tax prep companies. If your adjusted gross income is $89,000 or less, you're eligible for free guided tax prep from providers like TaxSlayer, 1040.com and TaxAct.

If you're over that income limit, you can use Free File Fillable Forms, which requires a working knowledge of taxes but is available at no cost.

You may also be able to file your 2025 tax return for free through a company like Cash App Taxes, H&R Block or TurboTax, all of which have their own requirements.

How long do tax refunds take?

So far this tax season, the IRS has issued more than 80% of refunds in less than 21 days. The vast majority of those tax refunds have been direct-deposited into taxpayers' bank accounts.

Can I track my tax refund?

The IRS should be able to provide an update on your refund status 24 hours after you electronically file your return or four weeks after you file a paper return.

You can track your tax refund by using the IRS' Where's My Refund tool, which requires you to input the exact refund amount, your filing status and your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). You can also log in to your IRS online account, use the IRS mobile app or call the automated hotline at 800-829-1954.

How can I file for an extension on my taxes?

If you owe money on your taxes, it's important that you pay, or make a plan to pay, the IRS by April 15. (Penalties may still apply — more on this below.) But you can get more time to file by requesting an automatic extension.

An extension will give you until Oct. 15 to submit your 2025 tax return. To request an extension, you can:

Pay what you estimate you owe online and indicate that you're filing for an extension
Use IRS Free File — regardless of your income — to submit Form 4868
Email, mail or have a tax pro send in Form 4868

How do I deduct my tips and overtime pay on my taxes?

This filing season is the first since President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, or OBBBA, which included a handful of new tax breaks aimed at bringing down costs for everyday Americans. To claim these deductions, you'll need to fill out Schedule 1-A and attach it to your 1040.

The "no tax on tips" deduction allows certain tipped employees to deduct up to $25,000 of tip income on their returns. It phases out for single filers who earn over $150,000 ($300,000 for joint filers). Eligible roles include hairdressers, baristas, waiters, dancers, housecleaners and more.

The "no tax on overtime" deduction is intended for non-exempt hourly employees covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act who work over 40 hours a week. It's worth up to $12,500 and starts phasing out at $150,000 for single filers ($300,000 for joint filers).

Is the SALT cap still $10,000?

Get ready for acronym overload. The OBBBA increased the cap on the amount of state and local tax, or SALT, itemizers can deduct from their taxable income. For tax year 2025, the SALT cap has jumped to $40,000 for single filers ($20,000 if married filing separately). It's due to increase by 1% each year through 2029, at which point it will revert to $10,000.

The SALT deduction for 2025 starts phasing out when your income reaches $500,000 for single filers (or $250,000 for married couples), but it won't go lower than $10,000.

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What is the extra tax break for people over 65 in 2026?

Marketed as "no tax on Social Security," the enhanced deduction for seniors offers an additional $6,000 deduction for filers who are 65 on or before the last day of the tax year. Both itemizers and non-itemizers can claim the senior bonus, though it phases out for folks who earn over $75,000 ($150,000 for joint filers).

How do I claim my $1,000 Trump Account for my baby?

Trump Accounts are a new type of tax-deferred savings and investing account for Americans under 18.

The federal government has committed to making a one-time $1,000 contribution to the Trump Account of each eligible U.S. citizen born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028. But Trump Accounts aren't currently accepting contributions right now — they'll start on July 4.

Parents can enroll their kids by filling out IRS Form 4547 when filing their 2025 taxes. You don't have to do this when you file taxes, though. You can also visit the official Trump Accounts website to sign up.

What happens if I don't file taxes?

If you're owed money and don't file a tax return, you'll miss out on your tax refund. That could be a nice chunk of change, given that the average 2026 refund so far is $3,512. The IRS will hold onto your refund for three years, so make sure you file by April 15, 2029.

If you owe money, things are different. You could face penalties from the IRS if you're required to file a 2025 tax return and decide not to (without reasonable cause). The failure-to-file penalty is 5% of what you owe (minus what you've paid on time and credits) for each month or partial month you don't file, up to 25%. After 60 days, the minimum penalty is $525 or 100% of the amount you underpaid — whichever is less.

If you owe and file but don't pay, you'll likely face a failure-to-pay penalty, which is 0.5% of your unpaid taxes per month or partial month, up to 25%. If you're hit with both penalties, the IRS will reduce the first (the failure-to-file ding) by the amount of the second (the penalty for not paying) in a given month. failure-to-pay penalty in a given month.

The agency also charges interest.