When is the Tax Deadline for 2025?

Uncle Sam wants your hard-earned money by April 15 – that’s on a Tuesday. 

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will give you until Oct. 15 to submit your return, but if you owe taxes, you must pay them by April 15 to avoid penalties and interest. 

If you expect a refund, you’ll get it faster if you file early.

What You Need to Know About 2025 Tax Deadlines

If you earned income in 2024, you must file a tax return. 

Staying informed about key deadlines for the 2025 tax season is important to avoid penalties, interest charges and delayed refunds. 

The deadline to file your 2024 federal tax return or ask for an extension is April 15. Although that will buy you time – you’ll have until Oct. 15 to submit your returns – you still need to pay your estimated taxes by April 15 or you’ll incur penalties and interest. 

Filing early will ensure you receive your refund faster and reduce the risk of tax fraud. To get a faster refund, you can set up direct deposit to your checking account.

Most income is taxable, and you should report it even if you don’t receive a form from the business that paid you. You’ll receive a W-2 from your employers if you have a job. You’ll likely get 1099-NEC forms detailing your income if you do freelance or independent contractor work. 

You’re also responsible for reporting income from online sales of goods or services, renting out your property and bartering for goods or services. 

Alimony payments, canceled debts, court awards and damages, some scholarships and gambling winnings are also considered income. 

The standard deduction for the 2024 tax year is $14,600 for single filers, an increase of $750 and $29,200 for married couples filing jointly, up $1,500 from 2023. 

Taxpayers who are 65 or older or are blind also saw an increase in their additional standard deductions. Single or head-of-household deductions increased $100 to $1,950, and married taxpayers saw an increase of $50 to $1,550.

The standard deduction for someone claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer cannot exceed $1,300 or $450 plus that person’s earned income.

Tax brackets for the 2024 tax year increased slightly to account for inflation. 

The tax rate for single taxpayers earning up to $11,600 is 10%. It’s 12% if you earn $11,601 to $47,150 and 22% if you earn $47,151 to $100,525. 

Those earning $100,526 to $191,950 pay 24%; for those with incomes of $191,951 to $243,725, the rate is 32%. 

You’ll pay a 25% tax rate if you make $243,726 up to $609,350. If you earn more than that, you’ll pay 37%.

For taxpayers who are married and filing jointly, the tax rate is 10% up to 23,200. It rises to 12% for up to $94,300 and 22% when you earn up to $201,050. 

The rate is 32% for couples earning $383,901 to $487,450, 35% up to $731,200 and 37% if they earn more than $731,201 per year.

Many great tools are free to help you organize and file your taxes. Some free software available include FreeTaxUSA, TurboTax Free Edition, H&R Block Free Federal Edition and eSMart Tax-Free File by Liberty Tax.

When Does the 2025 U.S. Tax Season Start?

The IRS opened the tax filing season on Jan. 27, and the deadline to file your tax return is April 15.

If you miss the April 15 deadline, you have until Oct. 15 to file your return. However, you still must pay your estimated taxes by April 15 to avoid interest and penalties.

The IRS issues most refunds within 21 days. You can check the status of your refund by using Where’s My Refund on IRS.gov or the IRS2Go app. 

How Early Can I File My 2025 Taxes? 

You could have filed your taxes as early as Jan. 27, when the IRS opened the 2025 tax filing season. The deadline to file your return is April 15, although if you miss it you can file as late as Oct. 15 – but you still have to pay your estimated taxes by the April deadline to avoid interest and penalties. 

To file your taxes, you’ll need the Social Security number or Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) for yourself and anyone else on our return. You’ll also need your bank account and routing numbers to receive your refund via direct deposit. 

You’ll also have to prove your income through various forms, including W-2s and 1099s. 

Suppose you had any side jobs or were self-employed in 2024. In that case, you’ll need to provide receipts and mileage logs for travel, gift and car expenses, records of deductible office expenses and other business income and expense records. Other deductions include childcare or dependent care expenses, home mortgage and property tax records, donations to charities, health savings account or flexible spending account contributions, healthcare expenses and retirement contributions.

You’ll also need to indicate whether you made quarterly estimated tax payments. 

Does the IRS Offer Free Tax Preparation?

Free online and in-person tax preparation options are available for eligible taxpayers through IRS Free File, IRS Direct File and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance and Tax Counseling for the Elderly programs. 

Taxpayers who earned $84,000 or less last year can use the IRS Free File software from now through Oct. 15. The software provides electronic forms for people to fill out and electronically file themselves. 

Direct File allows taxpayers to file online directly with the IRS and is now available in 25 states. The free, web-based service is available in English and Spanish and works on mobile phones, laptops, tablets or desktop computers. Direct File also guides taxpayers to tools that help them complete their state taxes, and IRS customer service representatives are available to help through a live chat feature. 

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides help to taxpayers who make $67,000 per year or less, those with disabilities and people who prefer to communicate in a language other than English.

In addition to VITA, the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program helps all taxpayers with their returns but specializes in questions about pensions and retirement-related issues unique to seniors.

The Department of Defense offers the MilTax program to members of the armed forces and some veterans. The software helps military members prepare and file their returns electronically. 

What Happens if I Miss the Tax Deadline?

If you miss the April 15 tax filing deadline and owe taxes, you could face a penalty of 5% of the unpaid taxes for each month your return is late, up to a maximum of 25%. In addition, interest will accrue on unpaid taxes from the due date until you pay them.

You can ask for an extension if you can’t file your taxes by the deadline. Although it gives you more time to file, you’ll still need to pay your estimated taxes by the April 15 deadline. 

If you are getting a refund, you usually won’t be penalized for not filing on time, but you still want to file as soon as possible so you get your money back. 

Are You Ready for the 2025 Tax Season?

Uncle Sam’s deadline to file your taxes is approaching fast, and knowing the key dates and requirements for the tax season is crucial. 

While April 15 is the deadline for filing and paying your taxes, understanding the nuances of extensions, deductions and available resources can save you time and money and reduce stress. Staying informed is your best defense against tax-time anxiety, so prepare now and breeze through the 2025 tax season.

Frequently Asked Questions