When Are Taxes Due?

Haven't done your taxes yet? You're not alone. As of April 4, just 101 million of an estimated 140 million filers this year had submitted their 2024 income tax returns.

But time is running out. Unless you qualify for IRS relief or get an extension, most taxpayers have until Tuesday to submit their federal tax returns to the IRS.

When is Tax Day 2025?

This year, Tax Day falls on Tuesday. For most taxpayers, this is the deadline to submit all your tax documents and make a complete or partial payment if you owe the IRS.

Although Tax Day is on April 15 this year, this isn't always the case. The deadline may be pushed to the next business day if it falls on a weekend or a holiday. For instance, last year, the federal tax deadline in Maine and Massachusetts was moved to April 17 because it fell on Patriots' Day. In 2023, the federal Tax Day was April 18.

When are state taxes due?

Nine states (Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming) don't collect state income tax on wages. Washington, D.C., and the 41 states that levy individual income taxes typically have the same deadline as the federal government, with a few exceptions.

For example, taxpayers in Hawaii can file by April 21, Delaware residents have until April 30 to file, and residents of Georgia and South Carolina can submit their paperwork by May 1 thanks to tax relief measures issued after Hurricane Helene.

The rules on getting an extension to file also vary by state. Some states require you to submit a separate request by the original deadline if you need extra time. Other states states automatically grant the extension if you are due a refund, if you pay part of your total tax burden, or if you already requested an extension to file your federal taxes.

When is the last day to file taxes?

For most people, the last day to file their taxes without penalties is Tuesday. You can apply for an extension if you need more time. You don't have to explain why, but you must submit the request to the IRS on or before the deadline. If approved, your new tax return deadline will be Oct. 15 — a six-month extension to file your tax return without penalties.

There are three ways to get this extension: through IRS Free File, by filing Form 4868 via regular mail, or by sending a partial or complete online payment of your estimated income tax and checking a box indicating that you're filing for an extension.

Note that filing an extension doesn't change your payment due date — it just gives you more time to complete the relevant paperwork. You still have to submit any tax balance or estimated payment you owe by Tuesday to avoid late payment penalties.

The most convenient way to pay is likely by making an electronic payment (through direct deposit, digital wallet, credit or debit card, or by phone). You can also pay via regular mail by sending a check or money order with a copy of your tax return.

Some people might not need to request an extension to file at all. The IRS may automatically grant an additional two months to taxpayers and military personnel living abroad to submit their tax returns (they're still required to pay on time).

People impacted by a natural disaster are also granted additional time to file and pay their taxes. This year, taxpayers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina — plus folks in parts of Alaska, New Mexico, Tennessee and Virginia — have until May 1 to file. California residents who live in Los Angeles County don't have to file until Oct. 15. Nov. 3 is the tax deadline for taxpayers in all Kentucky as well as parts of West Virginia.

What happens if you miss the tax deadline?

Though the IRS will continue to accept electronically filed returns after Tuesday, missing the tax deadline can come at a price. If you fail to pay on time, the penalty is 0.5% of what you owe for each month you don't pay, up to 25%. The failure-to-file penalty is harsher, charging 5% of your due tax amount for each month that goes by, up to the same maximum.

The IRS may remove some or reduce these penalties if you can show reasonable cause for the delay, such as a natural disaster or a death or illness in the family.

The IRS also might not charge any penalties for filing late if you overpaid for the 2024 tax year. That said, you should still file as soon as possible to avoid losing any unclaimed refunds. The IRS grants you three years from the due date to claim a tax refund. After three years, the money becomes federal government property, and you can't get it back.

What if you can't pay your taxes?

People who can't pay their taxes in full by should still file their returns and pay what they can. Even a partial payment will help minimize any penalties, and the IRS may allow you to pay any remaining balance over time or possibly even settle for less than the full amount owed through its Offer in Compromise program.

The IRS offers two online repayment plan options, depending on how much you owe in taxes, penalties and interest. Taxpayers who owe less than $100,000 may qualify for a four-month payment plan, while people who owe less than $50,000 can repay their debt over a longer payment period.

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