Tax Filing Deadline 2026 — When Are Taxes Due?

2026 Federal Tax Deadline

The federal income tax filing deadline for the 2025 tax year is Tuesday, April 15, 2026. This is the date by which you must file your 2025 tax return (Form 1040 or 1040-SR) or file Form 4868 for an automatic extension. This deadline applies to most taxpayers across all 50 states and US territories.

If you are a US citizen or resident alien living abroad, you automatically get a 2-month extension to June 15, 2026 to file your return, but any tax owed is still due by April 15. You can request an additional extension to October 15 by filing Form 4868 with "Taxpayer Abroad" noted.

Military personnel serving in a combat zone or contingency operation get additional automatic extensions — typically 180 days after leaving the combat zone. This applies to both filing and payment deadlines.

Use our free tax refund calculator to estimate your refund or balance due before the deadline so you know exactly where you stand.

State Tax Filing Deadlines

State tax filing deadlines generally follow the federal deadline, but there are important exceptions. Here is a breakdown of state deadline rules:

States That Match the Federal Deadline (Majority)

Most states with a state income tax — including California, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Colorado, Arizona, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Hawaii — use the same April 15 deadline as the IRS. If you file a federal extension, these states automatically extend your state deadline to the same date (October 15).

States With Different Deadlines

A few states have unique deadlines that differ from the federal date:

States With No Income Tax

Nine states have no state income tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire (no tax on wages), South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. No state return is required in these states, so the federal deadline is the only date you need to track.

See our state tax rates page for a complete breakdown of each state's tax system and deadlines.

How to Get an Extension

If you cannot file your tax return by April 15, you can request an automatic 6-month extension by filing IRS Form 4868. The extension moves your filing deadline to October 15, 2026. No reason is required — the extension is automatic when you file the form on time.

Important: An extension to file is NOT an extension to pay. You must estimate and pay any tax you owe by April 15 to avoid 0.5% per month late payment penalties and interest.

You can file Form 4868 online through IRS Free File, through tax software, or by mailing a paper form. The fastest method is e-filing, which gives you immediate confirmation. You can also pay your estimated tax via IRS Direct Pay and select "Extension" as the reason — the payment itself serves as your extension filing.

For a complete walkthrough, see our Tax Extension 2026 guide.

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline

Missing the tax filing deadline triggers penalties that increase the longer you wait. Here is what you face if you do not file or pay on time:

The failure-to-file penalty (5% per month) is 10 times higher than the failure-to-pay penalty (0.5% per month). This is why you should always file your return or an extension by the deadline, even if you cannot pay in full.

If you owe taxes and cannot pay, the IRS offers payment plans (installment agreements) and, in some cases, offers in compromise or penalty abatement. The key is to file your return or extension on time to avoid the much larger failure-to-file penalty.

Key Tax Dates Calendar 2026

Here is a complete calendar of important tax dates for the 2026 tax season: