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Your tax deadline is April 15, 2024. Uncle Sam has a deadline, too. When do will you get your federal tax refund?
Important IRS Due Dates and Deadlines for the 2024 Tax Filing Season
Tax season marks dates when the Internal Revenue Service begins accepting and processing federal income tax returns. Most U.S. taxpayers know that April 15 is usually when annual tax returns are due to the IRS. But did you know that the tax deadline can change? Because of a federal holiday, the tax filing deadline for taxpayers in 2022 was actually April 18 for most, as it's the next business day after the holiday. That said, the actual tax filing deadline in 2025 is April 15.
The annual tax return deadline isn't the only important date your tax preparer is watching in the tax filing season. The other big ones are when you can expect your tax refund check, any estimated tax payment due dates and how long sending the IRS an extension form gives you.
Get your social security number and a pen! Here are the due dates and deadlines you need to know whether you're a calendar year income tax return filer or you're filing federal taxes quarterly.
The deadline in 2025 is April 15 because it falls on a Tuesday, and it is not affected by Emancipation Day (observed April 16), since that holiday only pushes the deadline if it falls on the 15th or earlier on a weekday in Washington, D.C.
2025 Tax Season Dates and Deadlines (June–December)
June 16, 2025
2nd Quarter Payment deadline for 2025 estimated tax payments for those making quarterly payments with Form 1040-ES.
September 15, 2025
3rd Quarter Payment deadline for 2025 estimated tax payments for those making quarterly payments with Form 1040-ES.
October 15, 2025
Final deadline to file 2024 federal income tax returns for individuals who requested a six-month extension using Form 4868.
December 31, 2025
Last day to make charitable contributions for the 2025 tax year that may be deductible on your 2025 tax return.
2026 Tax Season Dates and Deadlines
January 15, 2026
4th Quarter Payment deadline for 2025 estimated tax payments for those making quarterly payments with Form 1040-ES.
January 27, 2026
The 2026 tax season officially starts. The IRS begins accepting and processing 2025 federal individual income tax returns.
January 31, 2026
Deadline for employers to furnish Form W-2 to employees and for businesses to furnish Form 1099-NEC to nonemployees for income earned in 2025.
March 15, 2026
Annual tax returns are due for calendar-year partnerships and S corporations (Form 1065 and Form 1120S).
April 15, 2026
Due date to file 2025 federal income tax returns for individuals and C corporations.
1st Quarter Payment deadline for 2026 estimated tax payments for those making quarterly payments with Form 1040-ES.
June 15, 2026
2nd Quarter Payment deadline for 2026 estimated tax payments for those making quarterly payments with Form 1040-ES.
September 15, 2026
3rd Quarter Payment deadline for 2026 estimated tax payments for those making quarterly payments with Form 1040-ES.
October 15, 2026
Final deadline to file 2025 federal income tax returns for individuals who requested a six-month extension using Form 4868.
Please note that if a due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the deadline is typically extended to the next business day.
When Will You Get Your Tax Refund? Request Direct Deposit for a Faster Tax Refund
The way you send your federal return and your preferred federal tax refund method can affect the processing time, which also affects the tax refund schedule. Of course, electronic filing and electronic refunds are faster. Choosing any online filing option will get your return to you faster than a paper filing and paper refund payment.
In fact, the IRS is recommending all tax professionals to urge their clients to file electronically instead of filing by paper. The tax refund process is much faster and more secure when you use electronic methods.
Paper tax returns take the most time. The IRS could take six months or more to process your federal tax refund payment if you filed a paper tax return.
Requesting a paper check can lead to tax refund processing delays. That means you may wait at least 6-8 weeks for your tax refund check to arrive.
Requesting direct deposit is the best way to get a faster tax refund. Wait 5 days after the IRS approves your refund before checking with your bank.
When You Can Expect Your Income Tax Refunds: Dates for 2025
You can estimate when you’ll receive your tax refund based on when you filed and how you wanted to receive your refund. The following dates are approximate.
When the IRS accepted your tax filing
When the IRS will send your direct deposit
When the IRS will mail a paper check
The week of Jan. 22
Feb. 2
Feb. 9
The week of Jan. 29
Feb. 9
Feb. 16
The week of Feb. 5
Feb. 16
Feb. 23
The week of Feb. 12
Feb. 23
March 1
The week of Feb. 19
March 1
March 8
The week of Feb. 26
March 8
March 15
The week of March 4
March 15
March 22
The week of March 11
March 22
March 29
The week of March 18
March 29
April 5
The week of March 25
April 5
April 12
The week of April 1
April 12
April 19
The week of April 8
April 19
April 26
The week of April 15
April 26
May 3
The IRS makes it easy to check your tax refund status once you file your federal tax returns. Go to Where’s My Refund? on irs.gov to look up your refund status. You’ll be able to see its status within 24 hours of e-filing your federal returns for the 2023 tax year. (Give it a few days with an e-filed return from a previous tax year and six months if you’re filing by paper.)
There’s a chance the IRS may mail you a paper check even if you requested a direct deposit refund. The IRS can’t deposit more than three refunds into a single financial account. And it only deposits tax refunds electronically into accounts in your name, your spouse’s name or in a joint account. Also your financial institution may reject a direct deposit for its own reasons.
Important Dates for Individual Taxpayers – Self-employed, independent contractors, Gig Workers
Most income is taxable. Your individual income tax liability can include income from virtual currencies, or the gig economy where you’re working as an independent contractor, self-employed person, or a sole proprietor. These sources of income don’t withhold taxes from your pay, so you may have to make payments to the IRS four times a year. Quarterly tax payments generally follow this schedule:
• The first payment is due April 15.
• The second payment is due June 15.
• The third payment is due September 15.
• The fourth payment is due January 15 the next year.
3 Tips to Make Filing Your Taxes Easier
If you plan ahead, filing your federal returns can be easy and relatively stress-free.
• Organize your tax documents. Put any tax records mailed to you in one place. Save those digital tax records into a secure space.
• Check your account with the IRS online. You can access individual tax return information such as tax records, payments and outstanding balances. Most importantly, you can make sure your address and personal information is up to date.
• Wait to file your tax returns until you’ve got everything. The most common tax records you’ll need are:
Form W-2
• Form 1099 for dividends, unemployment, etc. or a 1099-NEC for any income from the gig economy
• 1095-A for health insurance coverage
A little bit of planning and organization makes filing your tax return on time easier — and getting that tax refund faster.
What If You Can’t File Your Income Taxes by April 15?
First, take a breath. Then file an Extension Form 4868 to get an automatic six-month extension. When you submit that form to the federal government, you also should pay an estimate of what you owe in taxes to avoid monthly penalties and interest.Your new tax deadline will become October 15, 2025. However, your taxes are still due on time.
Don’t waste that time! If you do owe more than what you estimated, your tax liability on unpaid taxes will build interest for every day that passes until you pay it. And, if you don’t owe any taxes but deserve a tax refund, every week you wait is that much longer you have to wait for your refund. And your entire tax refund does not come to you with interest.
RELATED: Missed the Tax Deadline? File Taxes Now to Get a Refund & Lower Penalties
Sources
"Where’s My Tax Refund?" - IRSvideos
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Frequently Asked Questions
What form do I need to file to request a tax extension, and how long does the extension last?
To request a federal tax extension, you must file Form 4868, which grants you a six-month extension beyond the original April 15 deadline. For the 2024 tax year, that means your extended deadline would be October 15, 2025. Keep in mind that an extension to file is not an extension to pay any taxes owed.
What is the final deadline to file a 2024 federal income tax return if an extension was requested?
If you requested a six-month extension for your 2024 federal income tax return, the final deadline to file is October 15, 2025. Similarly, taxpayers who request an extension for their 2025 tax return will have until October 15, 2026, to file. Missing this extended deadline can result in late-filing penalties.
Why is the 2025 tax filing deadline April 15 and not a later date like it was in 2022?
The 2025 tax deadline falls on April 15 because it lands on a Tuesday and is not affected by the Emancipation Day holiday, which is observed on April 16 that year. In 2022, the deadline shifted to April 18 because a federal holiday pushed it to the next business day. Emancipation Day only moves the tax deadline when it falls on April 15 or earlier on a weekday in Washington, D.C.
When are partnership and S corporation tax returns due compared to individual returns?
Calendar-year partnerships and S corporations must file their annual tax returns (Form 1065 and Form 1120S) by March 15, 2026, which is one full month earlier than the April 15, 2026, deadline for individual and C corporation returns. This earlier deadline allows partnership and S corporation income to be reported on owners' individual returns before those are due. Taxpayers who own interests in these entities should plan accordingly to ensure they receive the necessary tax documents in time.
If a tax deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, when is the return actually due?
When a federal tax due date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the deadline is typically extended to the next business day. This rule applies to filing deadlines as well as estimated tax payment due dates throughout the year. Taxpayers should always verify whether a specific deadline has shifted, as this can vary from year to year depending on the calendar.
About the Author
CPA
Jacob Dayan is a tax professional at IRS.com with expertise in U.S. federal and state tax law. Their articles are written to help taxpayers understand complex tax topics in plain English.