Even though Tax Day falls in April, there are a number of other deadlines and key dates that make up the tax calendar.
Whether you’re a freelancer juggling quarterly payments or a W-2 worker expecting a refund, staying on top of these dates can help you avoid penalties and keep your finances on track.
In this article, we’ll break down the tax deadlines you need to know, what to do if you miss a deadline, and tax season preparation tips.
When are taxes due in 2025?
In 2025, taxes are due on April 15. This is the standard deadline unless April 15 falls on a weekend or public holiday, in which case the deadline moves to the following business day.
When are taxes due if you have an extension?
If you know you won’t be able to file your taxes by the due date, you can apply for an extension. If you’re granted one, you’ll have an extra six months — until October 15 — to file your taxes.
However, even with an extension, you’ll still need to pay your taxes by April 15. The good news is that if you know you won’t be able to pay 100% of your tax bill by the deadline, you can apply for an IRS payment plan.
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When are state taxes due?
Most states have the same due date as the federal tax deadline, which is April 15. However, there are a few states with different deadlines. (Note: Several of these dates are from tax year 2024 editions of their respective websites, so be sure to verify the 2025 deadlines in your state before you make your plans.)
- California: Deadline to file October 15, payment deadline April 15
- Hawaii: April 22
- Iowa: April 30
- Louisiana: May 15
- Massachusetts: April 17
- Virginia: May 1
These states, on the other hand, don’t charge any income tax and therefore don’t have a state-specific deadline:
- Alaska
- Florida
- Nevada
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Washington
- Wyoming
When are quarterly taxes due?
Self-employed people who expect to owe at least $1,000 have to pay their taxes in estimated quarterly installments throughout the year.
The four deadlines for estimated taxes are:
- Quarter 1: April 15
- Quarter 2: June 15
- Quarter 3: September 15
- Quarter 4: January 15
You can estimate how much you’ll owe for each quarter with Keeper’s free quarterly tax calculator.
What happens if I miss the tax deadline?
If you miss the tax deadline, take a deep breath! Many people fall behind on their taxes, so you’re not alone. In fact, more than 19 million people requested an extension for their 2021 tax return, and more than 1.5 million people were late filing their taxes.
If you don’t owe any taxes, you won’t face penalties, so just file your return as soon as you can. If you’re expecting a refund, you won’t receive it until you file.
If you do owe taxes, you might face penalties and interest if you don’t file or pay on time. Here’s a quick look at what the IRS charges for filing and paying late:
- Failure to file: 5% of the unpaid taxes for each month, capped at 25% at five months
- Failure to pay: 0.5% of the unpaid taxes for each month, capped at 25% at 50 months
You can find a more in-depth explanation in Keeper’s guide to filing late taxes.
If you’re behind, make sure that you file as soon as possible to halt penalties. The quickest way to get this done is by e-filing using a platform like Keeper. (And if you use Keeper to track your business expenses, you won’t have to spend time adding them to your Schedule C — the app will automatically upload them for you!)
If you can’t pay your taxes in full yet, pay what you can. This will decrease the penalties you’ll have to pay. You can also set up a range of IRS payment plans, including short-term and long-term options.
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Tax deadlines for 2025
The IRS has not yet announced when tax season will begin in 2025. However, that date will probably be in late January.
For now, we suggest referring to the list of deadlines for 2024. Although the 2024 tax deadline has passed, we can expect the timeline to be similar in 2025.
Tax deadlines for freelancers: 2024
These are the key tax dates and deadlines you should know if you’re self-employed. Remember that if certain deadlines fall on a weekend or public holiday (including Tax Day), they are moved to the following business day.
Tax deadlines for W-2 workers: 2024
Here are the major 2024 tax dates and deadlines you should know if you’re a W-2 worker. Remember that if certain deadlines fall on a weekend or public holiday (including Tax Day), they are moved to the following business day.
Tax deadlines for S corps: 2024
Below are important tax dates and deadlines you should know if you’re an S corp. Remember that if certain deadlines fall on a weekend or public holiday (including Tax Day), they are moved to the following business day.
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FAQ
When are taxes due in 2025?
2024 taxes are due on April 15, 2025. If April 15 falls on a weekend or public holiday, the tax deadline will move to the next business day.
What is the deadline for filing with an extension?
If you receive an extension from the IRS, you’ll have an extra six months to file your taxes and your new deadline will be October 15. If this date is on a weekend or public holiday, the deadline will move to the next business day.
When does tax season start?
Tax season began on January 29, 2024 and ended on April 15, 2024. This is the date when the IRS starts accepting and processing federal tax returns. So if you want to get your taxes in ahead of the April 15 deadline in 2025, you can send it in when tax season begins at the end of January. The official date hasn’t been announced yet, but you can keep an eye on the IRS newsroom for updates.
How do I file for a tax extension?
If you know you won’t be able to file your taxes by the April 15 deadline, you can file for an extension, which will give you an extra six months to send the IRS your return.
To submit an extension application electronically, use IRS Free File. If you prefer putting pen to paper, you can fill out Form 4868.
What happens if you miss the tax filing deadline and are owed a refund?
If you miss the tax filing deadline and are owed a refund, your refund will be delayed. If your return is late by three years or more, you won’t receive a refund at all.
What happens if you miss the tax filing deadline and owe taxes?
If you miss the tax filing deadline and owe taxes, you might face penalties. Here’s how much the IRS charges:
- Penalty for filing late: 5% of the unpaid taxes for each month, capped at 25% at five months
- Penalty for paying late: 0.5% of the unpaid taxes for each month, capped at 25% at 50 months
What happens if you miss an estimated tax payment deadline?
If you miss an estimated tax payment (or underpay a quarterly payment by more than 10%), the IRS typically issues a penalty of 0.5% of the entire amount you owe.
The penalty will increase with each month your taxes remain unpaid, with a cap of 25%.
When will I get my tax refund?
If you e-file, you can typically expect to receive your tax refund three weeks after you submit your return.
If you submit your taxes through the mail or have to amend your return, your refund should take about four weeks to arrive.
Creating your own tax calendar can be a helpful way to break the process of filing on time into manageable steps. Remember to include notifications that will ping you when it’s time to start preparing documents or setting up meetings with a tax professional. Hopefully this article is a helpful addition to your tax toolbelt, and can contribute to smoother, less stressful tax seasons.
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At Keeper, we’re on a mission to help people overcome the complexity of taxes. We’ve provided this information for educational purposes, and it does not constitute tax, legal, or accounting advice. If you would like a tax expert to clarify it for you, feel free to sign up for Keeper. You may also email support@keepertax.com with your questions.
