Tax Day is the deadline to file your federal income tax return, and it’s quickly approaching. Here’s everything you need to know to file on time, including what to file, new tax laws to be aware of, and how to avoid penalties.

When is the tax deadline this year? Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

For most taxpayers, the federal tax filing date falls either on April 15 or the next business day. This year, it falls on a Wednesday for most calendar year filers. Note that business tax return deadlines follow the fiscal year and may differ.

Most state income tax deadlines mirror the federal filing deadline, but there are some exceptions, so double-check your state’s website. For instance, Louisiana gives residents until May 15 to file their state income tax returns, and Hawaiians have until April 21. Eligible taxpayers affected by natural disasters may also have received automatic federal filing extensions if they reside in a disaster area.

What to file by the tax season 2026 deadline

Most taxpayers start with Form 1040 to report 2025 income, available on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website. Then, based on your specific situation, you’ll attach additional forms like the following:

• W-2s to report wages and earnings from an employer

• 1099s to report additional income not from an employer, such as freelance income (reported on Form 1099-NEC), settlement funds (reported on Form 1099-MISC), or interest from dividends (reported on Form 1099-DIV)

• 1098s to claim deductions, such as for mortgage interest (Form 1098) or student loan interest (Form 1098-E)

If you’re unsure what forms to file, you can use the IRS Tax Assistant or work with a tax professional. You don’t want to risk underreporting your income, which can trigger a notice from the IRS.

Read more: W-2 vs. W-4: What's the difference?

How to file your income taxes

If you're in a rush to submit your tax return before the deadline, there are several options to get your forms filed quickly and accurately. First, gather your paperwork for the tax year, including W-2s, Form 1099s , and other tax withholding documentation.

IRS Free File

IRS Free File is a free guided tax software from IRS tax partners made available to taxpayers across the country with a modified adjusted gross income (AGI) of $89,000 or less.

You can browse tax partners or use the tool to be matched with one. Just be sure to read the offers carefully to make sure you qualify for a free federal return.

And don’t forget state returns. Some partners may file them for free, but others might charge a fee.

Tax software

To complete your tax return before the due date, tax software can get the job done quickly and easily.

The downside is most tax software doesn’t come free, which can feel like piling on if you already owe taxes. If you have simple, straightforward returns, you may be able to use one of the free or trial versions of tax software from TurboTax or H&R Block.

Government tax assistance

The government offers tax assistance through programs like VITA (for filers who make $69,000 or less or meet other qualifications), Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE), and MiliTax , which is free tax software offered through the Department of Defense to military members, some veterans, and their families.

The IRS also runs tax assistance centers across the country. IRS staff and volunteers at these centers can set up a payment plan, check on your refund, and help you file your federal and state returns online.

Consult a tax professional

While they’ll be extremely busy as the tax deadline approaches, a tax professional can help you not only file a return, but also do other tax preparation work, such as filing a request for a tax extension .

Read more: How to file your 2025 tax return for free

3 tax changes to know before you file

Several major changes to tax policies in 2025 can impact how you file your federal tax return. Here’s what you need to know.

New tax credits and deductions you may be eligible for

New deductions for workers with overtime or qualified tips can lower your tax liability if you qualify. And both the child tax credit (nonrefundable) and the additional child tax credit (refundable for families with $2,500 in earned income) got a boost in 2025.

Learn more: 4 ways the One Big Beautiful Bill Act could lower your tax bill

A higher standard deduction

The standard deduction increased from $14,600 in 2024 to $15,750 for single filers — and seniors can claim an additional $6,000. That means more of your income will be excluded from the federal income tax. If you’re used to itemizing deductions, take a close look before you file this year. If the standard deduction is more than your allowable itemized deductions, it’s often simpler to go the standardized route.

Here’s how to decide whether you should itemize or choose the standard deduction .

A larger state and local tax (SALT) deduction

For 2025, the limit for deducting state and local income, sales, and property taxes quadrupled to $40,000 (up from $10,000 in 2024). This can be incredibly beneficial if you live in a state with higher taxes. But you have to itemize to claim the SALT deductions .

Not ready? Here’s how to file for an income tax extension.

If you’re scrambling to file your federal tax return, you can request a little extra time from the IRS. Your request must be submitted by the tax deadline and gives you an extra six months to file a return — but it doesn’t provide an extension for making tax payments.

That’s worth saying again: Even with an extension, your estimated taxes are still due by the federal tax deadline. The six-month extension is a grace period only for filing taxes, not an exemption from paying them.

If you’re out of the country or experienced a federally declared natural disaster in 2025, you may receive notice from the IRS that you’ve been automatically granted a filing extension.

How to pay your income tax bill or estimated tax payments

Not sure how to pay the piper for your unpaid taxes? Fortunately, you have several options if you have taxes due. If you’re using e-file tax software, you can typically just route the tax payment through your bank account.

You can also go to the IRS website and use the Direct Pay e-filing portal, which lets you make an electronic payment with your debit card, credit card , or through IRS-approved vendors. Self-employed taxpayers and small businesses can also use this portal to make estimated tax payments throughout the year.

If you prefer to send a check or money order via snail mail, the IRS provides instructions on including a voucher (you’ll file Form 1040 V) with your tax forms. Note, however, that a recent executive phased out paper checks for government payments as of Sept. 2025.

If you can't pay your tax bill in full by the payment deadline, the IRS offers several repayment plans. These include a short-term repayment plan (less than 180 days), a longer-term installment plan (more than 180 days), and a settlement option called " offer in compromise ," available to some taxpayers with financial hardships.

Read more: Need to file the old-fashioned way? Here's how to file a paper return.

What happens if you don't file before the tax filing deadline?

Failing to file taxes before the deadline comes with a cost. The IRS typically assesses two separate penalties: one for failure to file and another for failure to pay.

The failure-to-file penalty is 5% of your unpaid taxes charged each month, up to 25% of your unpaid tax liability. If you’re more than 60 days late in filing a return, penalties can be higher, including up to 100% of the underpayment.

The failure-to-pay penalty is 0.5% of your unpaid taxes assessed each month, up to 25% of your total tax bill. If you don’t pay within 10 days of the IRS notice, your late payment penalty increases to 1% per month.

How to use your tax refund wisely

If Uncle Sam owes you money, you can expect your refund to show up in your account via direct deposit a few weeks after you’ve filed. If you don’t choose direct deposit, getting a refund may take a bit longer.

While you wait for that tax refund, you can start doing a little financial planning to ensure you’ll use your money wisely. Most Americans opt to pay down debt, but you can also prop up an emergency fund or savings account, or put the money toward college or retirement.

Learn more: 5 ways to use your refund wisely

Tax deadline FAQs

1. Do you have to file by the deadline if you don't owe taxes?

While the IRS recommends most taxpayers file an individual income tax return, there are some cases when filing isn’t necessary. IRS income thresholds for mandatory filing are $15,750 for single filers, $31,500 for married couples filing jointly, and $23,625 for head-of-household filers.

Taxpayers over 65 may have slightly more generous income thresholds for mandatory filing. There is no failure-to-file penalty if you’re owed a refund.

Read more: Do you pay taxes on Social Security benefits?

2. Can I file my state income taxes at the same time as federal taxes?

Most states have the same or a similar deadline as federal tax returns, but there are some exceptions. You should check your state website for more information about when and how to file your state tax returns.

Many filing methods and tax software options allow taxpayers to file federal and state income taxes at the same time, but some may charge an additional fee for filing in one or more states.

3. Do you have to pay taxes by the filing deadline?

Tax day isn’t just the filing deadline. It’s also the deadline for paying taxes. Otherwise, you’ll begin to incur penalties. Even if you get an extension to compile and complete your tax return, you’ll still be expected to make an estimated tax payment by the tax deadline.

If you’re unable to pay your taxes by the deadline, the IRS offers payment plans or installment plans for eligible taxpayers.

Here's everything you need to know to file your taxes on time.