The main federal important date is April 15, but it shifts when that date falls on a weekend or holiday

Tax filings for the previous year are due on April 15 of the following year for most individual filers. When April 15 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or federal holiday, the important date moves to the next business day. For example, if April 15 is a Saturday, your filing important date becomes Monday, April 17. The IRS announces the exact important date each year on its website and on Form 1040 instructions.

This April 15 important date applies to federal income tax returns filed on Form 1040 (individual income tax), Form 1040-SR (for people 65 and older), and most other personal tax forms. It also applies to people who owe self-employment tax, even if they do not owe income tax. The important date is the same whether you file on paper or electronically.

Key Takeaways

  • Individual federal income tax returns are due April 15 of the year following the tax year, or the next business day if April 15 falls on a weekend or holiday.
  • You can request an automatic six-month extension by filing Form 4868, which moves your important date to October 15, but this extends only the filing important date, not the payment important date.
  • Estimated quarterly tax payments are due on April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 for self-employed people and others with income not subject to withholding.
  • State income tax important date usually match the federal important date of April 15, though a few states have different dates or no income tax at all.
  • Payroll tax deposits and employment tax returns follow different schedules based on how much you owe and whether you are a monthly or semi-weekly depositor.

How to get a six-month extension without penalty

You can extend your filing important date to October 15 by filing Form 4868 (process for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return) before April 15. This extension is automatic — the IRS grants it as long as you file the form on time. You do not need to explain why you need more time or provide documentation.

The critical thing to understand is that Form 4868 extends only the filing important date, not the payment important date. If you owe federal income tax, that payment is still due on April 15. If you do not pay by April 15, you will owe interest and penalties on the unpaid balance, even if you file your return in October. To avoid penalties, estimate what you owe and pay it by April 15, then file the actual return later with Form 4868.

You can file Form 4868 electronically through tax software, by mail, or by phone. The IRS website lists all three methods. If you file electronically, you receive confirmation when ready.

Quarterly estimated tax important date for self-employed people and investors

If you are self-employed, have investment income, or receive income that is not subject to withholding, you may owe estimated quarterly tax payments. These are due on April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15. Like the annual important date, if any of these dates falls on a weekend or holiday, the important date moves to the next business day.

Estimated tax is calculated on Form 1040-ES and paid using Form 1040-ES vouchers or through the IRS Direct Pay system on the IRS website. You do not have to make quarterly payments if your expected tax liability is under a certain threshold (the threshold varies by filing status and income type), but if you owe and do not pay quarterly, you will owe penalties and interest when you file your annual return, even if you pay the full amount then.

Many self-employed people and investors use tax software or a tax professional to calculate their quarterly payments, because the calculation depends on your total expected income for the year and your filing status. If your income changes significantly during the year, you can recalculate and adjust your remaining quarterly payments.

Employment tax and payroll important date are based on deposit amount

If you have employees, you must deposit payroll taxes (income tax withholding, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax) on a schedule set by the IRS based on how much you owe. The IRS classifies you as either a monthly or semi-weekly depositor. Monthly depositors must deposit taxes by the 15th of the following month. Semi-weekly depositors must deposit by Wednesday or Friday, depending on which day of the week you paid employees.

Your deposit schedule is determined by how much payroll tax you reported in a lookback period (usually the prior four quarters). The IRS notifies you of your classification, but you can also find it in your IRS account online. If you deposit late, you owe a penalty on top of the unpaid taxes and interest.

Payroll tax returns (Form 941 for quarterly filings or Form 944 for annual filings) are due one month after the end of the quarter or year. Form 941 is due April 30, July 31, October 31, and January 31. Form 944 is due January 31 of the following year. These important date also shift if they fall on a weekend or holiday.

State income tax important date usually match federal, but not always

Most states that have an income tax use April 15 as their important date, matching the federal important date. However, a few states have different important date. Some states allow you to file by the federal important date even if it is extended, while others require you to file by their own state important date regardless of a federal extension.

States without income tax include Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. New Hampshire and Tennessee tax only investment income, not wages. If you live in one of these states, you have no state income tax filing important date, but you still owe federal tax on April 15.

You can find your state's specific important date on your state tax agency website. Some states post the important date on their Form 1040 equivalent or in their tax instructions.

What happens if you miss the important date

If you do not file by the important date and do not have an extension, you owe a failure-to-file penalty. This penalty is usually 5 percent of the unpaid tax for each month (or part of a month) that the return is late, up to a maximum of 25 percent. If you file more than 60 days late, the minimum penalty is the lesser of $435 (as of 2024, though this amount changes yearly) or 100 percent of the unpaid tax.

You also owe a failure-to-pay penalty if you do not pay the tax you owe by April 15, even if you file on time. This penalty is 0.5 percent of the unpaid tax per month, up to 25 percent. Both penalties accrue interest at the federal rate, which changes quarterly.

If you file late but have a valid extension on file, you do not owe the failure-to-file penalty as long as you file by the extended important date. However, you still owe the failure-to-pay penalty and interest if you did not pay by April 15.

Corporate and partnership tax important date differ from individual important date

C corporations file Form 1120 and must file by April 15 of the following year, or March 15 if they are on a fiscal year ending December 31. S corporations file Form 1120-S and must file by March 15 of the following year (or the 15th day of the third month after their fiscal year ends). Partnerships file Form 1065 and must file by March 15 of the following year (or the 15th day of the third month after their fiscal year ends).

These entities can also request extensions, but the extension forms and important date differ from Form 4868. Corporations use Form 7004, and partnerships use the same form. The extension moves the important date to October 15 for most entities.

If you own a business, your personal income tax return is still due April 15, separate from your business entity's return. The business return important date does not extend your personal important date.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if April 15 falls on a Saturday or Sunday?

The important date automatically moves to the next business day. If April 15 is a Saturday, you have until Monday, April 17. If April 15 is a Sunday, you have until Monday, April 16. The IRS announces the exact important date each year in its tax calendar.

Can I file my return before January 1?

No. The IRS does not accept returns for a tax year until January 1 of the following year. Even if you have all your documents ready in December, you must wait until January 1 to file. However, you can prepare your return and have it ready to file on January 1.

Do I have to pay taxes by April 15 if I file an extension?

Yes. Form 4868 extends only the filing important date to October 15, not the payment important date. If you owe tax, you must pay it by April 15 to avoid interest and penalties. The extension gives you time to file your return, not time to pay what you owe.

What if I owe state taxes but live in a state with no income tax?

You only owe state income tax if you live in or earn income in a state that has an income tax. If you live in Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, or Wyoming, you have no state income tax filing important date. However, you still owe federal income tax by April 15.

When do I have to file if I am self-employed?

You file your annual return by April 15, the same as other individuals. However, you also owe estimated quarterly tax payments on April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 if your expected tax liability is above a certain threshold. These quarterly payments are separate from your annual return.