Taxes are due April 15 unless you live in a region affected by a natural disaster or you live in a state that has a state filing deadline that differs from the federal deadline. Even though taxpayers have a 78-day window to file their returns each season, the deadline still comes quickly.
If you don't think you can finish filing your income taxes by the April 15 deadline, you have options. First, you can file a free tax extension that will give you six more months to complete and submit your 2024 federal tax return.
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We've already given you tips on the best tax software to help you file a tax extension and how to file for free, but now we'll tell you how to file a tax extension and the money you could delay if you do.
Read more: No, a Tax Return and Tax Refund Are Not the Same
Deadline to file a tax extension
Along with the tax return submission deadline, there's a deadline to file for a tax extension. You'll need to submit it by 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, in your time zone. That's also the tax filing deadline.
How to file a tax extension in 2025
If you're planning to file a tax extension this year, you'll need to submit Form 4868 to the IRS either by paper or electronically using e-file before the April 15 deadline. As long as your electronic extension is transmitted by midnight tonight, or your letter is postmarked by that date, your extension should be good.
However, if you think that you owe taxes, you'll need to pay your estimated income tax due using Direct Pay, the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System or using a debit or credit card. If you don't pay your estimated taxes with your extension and owe money, you'll have to pay interest on that money and a potential penalty when you file.
Some taxpayers are automatically granted more time to file. This includes military personnel serving in combat zones or persons in federally declared disaster areas. US citizens who live outside the country have until June 17 to file.
Will an extension delay paying taxes you owe?
No. Extending your filing deadline doesn't delay when you have to pay taxes that you may owe. According to the IRS, you need to estimate and pay at least 90% of your tax liability by the deadline to avoid late fees. Otherwise, you will have accrued interest on what you owe, which you'll eventually have to pay — plus possible penalties — on top of your income taxes.
The late-payment penalty is usually 0.5% per month of the outstanding tax not paid by the filing deadline, maxing out at 25%. The IRS can also issue a late-filing penalty of 5% of the amount due for every month or partial month your tax return is late. If your return is filed more than 60 days after the due date, the minimum late-filing penalty is either $450 or 100% of the unpaid tax (whichever is less).
For individual taxpayers, penalties and interest will stop accruing only when your balance is paid in full. For more on penalties or to work out a payment plan with the IRS, check out its web page.
How is child tax credit money related to tax returns?
The child tax credit provides benefits for parents of children, allowing them to lower the amount they owe in taxes each year based on how many dependents they claim. If you had a new baby or gained a dependent that the IRS didn't know about, you can both decrease the amount of taxes you owe and increase the amount you may get back in a tax refund.
The Child Tax Credit allows families to receive up to $2,000 per eligible child under the age of 17, as long as certain income requirements are met. However, the credit is nonrefundable, meaning it can only reduce your tax liability to zero. If the credit exceeds the amount of taxes you owe, you won't get the difference as a refund.
By not filing your taxes by the deadline, you could be missing out on up to $2,000 per child.
The IRS encourages taxpayers to e-file and set up direct deposit to get refunds back faster.
Will your tax refund be late if you file an extension?
Yes. The timeline for getting your income tax refund depends on when you file. And although you have until Oct. 15 to submit your return if you file an extension, it doesn't mean you have to wait that long to file.
Some tax refunds, especially for more complicated returns or those that need corrections, could take months to arrive. The IRS encourages taxpayers to file electronically and carefully review their details before submitting to avoid any errors that could potentially delay refunds. The agency also asks that you sign up for direct deposit to get your money even faster.
Ways to file your 2024 tax return
The IRS says that taxpayers can file and schedule their federal tax payments online, by phone or with the mobile IRS2Go app.
If you need to find a tax software service to use, and you made $84,000 or less in 2024, you can find an IRS-approved free filing service easily. You'll need to gather the following information: income statements (W2s or 1099s), any adjustments to your income, your filing status (single, married, filing jointly), and dependent information. If you make more than $84,000, you can use the Free File Fillable Form.
If you haven't already made a tax payment, the IRS prefers that payments be made electronically and offers a variety of ways to do so, including IRS Direct Pay, which is directly linked to a checking or savings account. Another option is by credit card using the mobile IRS2Go app, or through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System.
How to review your IRS tax account online
An easy way to review all your tax-related details, including your address and payment plan details, is to access your IRS account online. According to the IRS, taxpayers can use the information from their account if they need to access their adjusted gross income, find their stimulus payment and child tax credit amounts, or review their estimated tax payments or credits. Accessing your tax transcript will give you all the records necessary if you have a tax problem or a missing payment.
If you have any additional questions you can go visit the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant to get help. For more key tax tips, check out CNET's taxes cheat sheet and this roundup of important deadlines for this tax season.