What Is the Last Day to Do Taxes in Texas?
Understand the federal tax deadline for Texans, including key dates, the rules for filing an extension, and important disaster-related adjustments.
Since Texas does not impose a state-level income tax, the focus for Texans is on the federal income tax requirements set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Proper tax compliance involves knowing the primary filing date, how to request more time, and the outcomes of missing these important dates.
The Primary Federal Filing Deadline
The standard deadline to file a federal income tax return for the 2024 tax year is Tuesday, April 15, 2025. This due date applies to most filers who operate on a calendar year basis. Your return is considered filed on time if it is electronically submitted by 11:59 p.m. in your local time zone or if a paper return is properly addressed and postmarked by this date.
If April 15th happens to land on a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal holiday, the filing deadline is automatically pushed to the next business day. One holiday that frequently causes this shift is Emancipation Day, which is observed in Washington, D.C. When this occurs, the entire nation benefits from the later deadline.
Requesting an Extension to File
For those unable to complete their tax return by the April deadline, the IRS allows for an automatic six-month extension of time to file, moving the deadline to October 15, 2025. This is not an extension of time to pay any tax that is due. Any estimated tax liability for the year is still due by the original April 15th deadline.
To obtain this extension, a taxpayer must submit Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, by the April 15th due date. An extension can also be secured by making an electronic payment for part or all of your estimated income tax and indicating the payment is for an extension. Failing to pay the owed taxes by the April deadline will result in interest and potential penalties, even with a valid extension to file.
Consequences of Missing the Deadline
Failing to file a return or an extension by the deadline can lead to financial penalties from the IRS. The two primary penalties are the Failure to File penalty and the Failure to Pay penalty, calculated based on the amount of unpaid tax. It is important to file on time, even if you cannot pay the full amount owed, as the penalty for not filing is significantly higher.
The Failure to File penalty is generally 5% of the unpaid taxes for each month or part of a month that a tax return is late, up to 25% of your unpaid taxes. If your return is over 60 days late, the minimum penalty is the lesser of $510 or 100% of the tax owed. The Failure to Pay penalty is 0.5% of the unpaid taxes for each month the taxes remain unpaid, also capped at 25%. If both penalties apply in the same month, the Failure to File penalty is reduced by the amount of the Failure to Pay penalty.
Disaster-Related Deadline Adjustments
The IRS provides tax relief to areas designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as federal disaster zones. This relief can include an automatic extension of time to file returns and make tax payments. For residents of Texas, a state prone to natural events like hurricanes and flooding, these provisions can be particularly relevant.
When a disaster is declared, the IRS will issue a news release specifying which counties are affected and the new deadlines. Taxpayers residing in these designated areas do not need to contact the IRS to get the extension; it is granted automatically. Impacted individuals should monitor the official IRS website for announcements that may postpone their filing and payment obligations.