April 15 tax deadline: Last-minute questions, what to know about extensions

Tax Day is this week, falling on Wednesday, April 15. 

If you still need to file by then, don't panic. You can request an extension, granting you additional time to submit your information.

Can taxes be filed on April 15? 

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Yes, you can file your taxes on April 15th, as long as it is completed and taken to the post office in enough time to have an April 15, 2026, postmark, or submitted online before midnight in your time zone, according to the IRS. 

RELATED: Tax Day 2026 freebies and deals

What time are taxes due on April 15? 

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If you’re filing online, taxes must be submitted electronically before midnight in your time zone. 

If filing via paper, your taxes will need to be taken to the post office on Wednesday in enough time to have an April 15, 2026, postmark. 

Dig deeper:

If you need to ensure your taxes receive the correct postmark, you can take your mail to a USPS retail location and request a local postmark when handing over your mail, according to the USPS. They’ll add the postmark manually for free. 

Check the location specific to you, but most USPS locations close between 5-6 p.m. local time on weekdays. 

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What is the penalty for filing taxes late? 

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The failure to file penalty applies if you don't file your tax return by the due date (including extensions). 

By the numbers:

The penalty is 5% of your unpaid taxes for each month that a return is late, up to 25% of the total unpaid, for individuals and most business tax returns, according to the IRS.

Dig deeper:

You’ll know if you owe a penalty because you’ll receive a notice letter from the IRS. 

How to file an extension for 2025 taxes

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Taxpayers who cannot file their return by April 15 should request an extension by that date to avoid a failure to file penalty.

Timeline:

The extension must be requested by the tax deadline on April 15, and extensions give taxpayers until Oct. 15 to submit their return. 

Of note:

However, any tax owed is still due by April 15. An extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay. 

If you owe taxes and don’t pay by April 15, you’ll owe interest and could also be charged late penalties.

What you can do:

There are three ways you can request an automatic extension to file your taxes: 

1. File Form 4868 electronically with an IRS e-filing partner
2. File Form 4868 in paper form and enclose payment of your estimate of tax due (optional)
3. Go to the IRS website to pay all or part of taxes owed using an online option and click on "extension" as the reason for the payment. That will give a confirmation number associated with the extension that can be kept for their records, with no need to file additional forms. 

Form 4868

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Form 4868 is the application for an automatic extension of six months (Oct. 15) to file tax returns. 

Find it here. 

Weather disaster tax relief

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If your life has been upended by a wildfire, hurricane, flood, tornado, or another disaster this past year, the IRS recognizes you may need more time to file your taxes and grants you an automatic extension.

Dig deeper:

The IRS keeps an official list online of all disaster locations that qualify you for an extension to file. You can view that list here to see if you’re included. 

Tax Day freebies

Many restaurants and businesses are offering deals or freebies on Tax Day. 

See deals here.