Has the Federal Tax Deadline Been Extended?
Understand the nuances of the federal tax deadline, including conditions that may alter your filing date and the critical distinction from payment deadlines.
Filing federal income taxes is an annual obligation for most U.S. citizens and residents, governed by deadlines set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). These deadlines help maintain compliance with federal tax laws and avoid penalties. Understanding the correct filing date is a part of this yearly process.
The Current Federal Tax Deadline
For the 2024 tax year, the federal tax filing deadline for individual income tax returns is April 15, 2025. The IRS has not announced a widespread, nationwide extension of this deadline for all taxpayers. While events in prior years have prompted blanket extensions, that is not the case for the 2025 filing season, so individuals must file their Form 1040 by this date. Certain taxpayers, such as citizens living abroad, may have different, automatic deadlines.
Extensions for Federally Declared Disasters
The IRS provides automatic filing and payment extensions to taxpayers in specific geographic areas impacted by events that receive a federal disaster declaration. These are targeted relief measures for those located within a disaster area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
This relief postpones various tax deadlines, including the filing of returns and the payment of taxes, with the length of the extension varying by disaster. To determine eligibility, taxpayers can check the “Tax Relief in Disaster Situations” page on the IRS website for a list of current declarations and covered regions. Federal extensions do not necessarily apply to state filing obligations, which must be verified with the relevant state tax agency.
How to Request a Personal Filing Extension
If you cannot meet the April 15 filing deadline and are not covered by a disaster extension, you can request an automatic six-month extension. This is done by submitting Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, by the April 15 deadline. This moves your filing due date to October 15, 2025.
You can submit Form 4868 electronically through tax preparation software or IRS Free File, or you can mail a paper version. Another way to get an extension is by making an electronic payment for part of your estimated tax due and indicating the payment is for an extension. The IRS automatically processes this as an extension without you needing to file a separate form.
Paying Your Taxes with an Extension
An extension to file does not grant more time to pay the taxes you owe, as the payment deadline remains April 15, 2025. To avoid penalties and interest, you must estimate your total tax liability and pay the amount you expect to owe by this original deadline.
Failure to pay at least 90% of your tax liability by April 15 can result in a late-payment penalty of 0.5% of the unpaid taxes for each month they remain unpaid, up to a maximum of 25%. You can make a payment with your extension request through several IRS options, including Direct Pay, debit or credit card, or mailing a check with Form 4868.