When Are Taxes Due? Tax Deadlines For 2025-2026

The tax filing deadline causes anxiety for a lot of taxpayers — and no wonder, there are potential penalties and interest to pay if you don’t file your tax return on time. But it’s pretty easy to get extra time to do your taxes. Read on to find out about key tax deadlines, how to file an extension and how to figure out your tax bill so you can pay by April 15.

Learn more: Here’s what happens if you don’t file your taxes

Can I file an extension?

Taxpayers can file an extension using Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File. This form needs to be filed by the due date of your tax return, which is April 15, 2026. Generally, you’ll get an automatic extension of six months. You won’t be notified unless your request is denied.

The challenging thing about filing an extension is that, while it gives you more time to file, it doesn’t give you more time to pay your tax bill. You must pay your income tax by April 15 to avoid interest and penalties.

If you don’t know what you owe, that’s understandable — it’s hard to figure out if you haven’t done your tax return yet. Luckily, there are two convenient safe harbors to choose from. If you pay one of the following amounts by the April 15 deadline, you won’t owe an underpayment penalty:

• Pay 100% of your prior-year tax bill. That is, if you’re seeking a safe harbor for your 2025 tax payment, then pay 100% of your 2024 tax bill by April 15, 2026. You can find your total tax bill by looking at line 16 on Form 1040. Note that the safe harbor is different if you earn more: You need to pay 110% of your prior-year tax bill if your adjusted gross income is $150,000 or more ($75,000 or more if you filed using the married filing separately tax status).
• Pay 90% of your current tax bill by April 15. That is, if you pay 90% of what you owe for your 2025 tax bill by April 15, 2026, you won’t face underpayment penalties.

Taxpayers who live outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico can get an automatic two-month extension, and this extension also applies to payment of taxes owed. Also, if you live outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico, you can get another four months, as long as you request that extra time by the new due date you were assigned with your original two-month extension.

When are taxes due if I file an extension?

If you file Form 4868 and receive the automatic six-month extension, you have until Oct. 15, 2026, to submit your 2025 tax return. If you miss the tax extension deadline, the next best step is to get your tax return filed as soon as possible, so you can either claim your tax refund or, if you owe money, you can get started on making payments.

As noted above, the extension of time to file doesn’t give you more time to pay: Your tax bill is still due on April 15. But, if you don’t know how much you owe, you can use one of the safe harbors described above to come up with a dollar amount to send to the IRS and avoid underpayment penalties.

If you already know that you’ll need an extension, plan on filing Form 4868 sooner rather than later. That way, if anything goes wrong with your application, you’ll have plenty of time to fix any errors and resubmit it ahead of the April 15 deadline. This also ensures you have time to estimate your tax liability so that you can pay what you owe, as well as time to get your documents together for your extended deadline in October.

When are estimated taxes due?

People who pay estimated taxes, including those who are self-employed or independent contractors, have a slightly different filing schedule than everyone else. (If your paycheck doesn’t have income taxes taken out before the money gets to you, then you’re probably required to pay estimated taxes.)

Generally, estimated taxes are due four times a year and must be submitted with Form 1040-ES.

The 2026 deadlines for paying estimated taxes are as follows:

The 2025 deadlines for paying estimated taxes are as follows:

If you’re an employee who earns tips, you’re required to report all your monthly tip earnings to your employer by the 10th of the following month. Your employer is responsible for sending those numbers to the IRS, as well as for adjusting how much money comes out of your paycheck to satisfy your tax withholding on tips. See this IRS page for more about the new tax deduction on tips.

When is the last day to file taxes?

Technically, the last day to file taxes this year is April 15, or Oct. 15 if you file an extension. But if you end up missing those deadlines, you still have options:

• If you’re expecting a refund, file your tax return as soon as possible to claim your money. Generally, taxpayers have three years from the due date of the return to claim a tax refund. You may qualify for refundable tax credits such as the earned income tax credit or the additional child tax credit, which could mean a refund for you.
• If you owe a tax bill, your best bet is taking steps now to file your return and start making payments toward that debt, because interest and penalties are accruing. The IRS offers a variety of payment options, including payment plans if you can’t pay in full right away.

When was Tax Day in 2025?

In 2025, federal income tax returns were due by April 15, 2025. Filers who filed an extension in 2025 had until Oct. 15, 2025, to file their 2024 returns. You should file your 2024 income tax return as soon as possible if you haven’t filed yet. By filing a past due tax return, you will reduce any late penalties and interest charges.

When were taxes due if I filed an extension in 2025?

Your 2024 federal income tax return was due by Oct. 15, 2025 if you filed Form 4868 and received the automatic six-month extension. If you missed this deadline or didn’t file an extension, file your tax return as soon as possible.

If you owe money, the sooner you file, the sooner you can reduce penalties and interest accruing on the unpaid balance. If a tax refund is owed to you, you must file a tax return within three years of the return due date to claim it, or you risk forfeiting it.

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