The main tax filing deadline for 2024 is April 15, 2025

If you earned income in 2024, your federal tax return is due on Monday, April 15, 2025. This is the standard deadline for individual income tax returns filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Most states that have income tax use the same date, though a few have different deadlines — check your state's tax authority website if you live outside the continental U.S. or in a territory.

The April 15 deadline applies whether you file on paper or electronically. If you cannot file by that date, you can request an extension, but the extension only delays filing — not payment. Any taxes you owe are still due on April 15, even if you file late.

Key Takeaways

  • Federal income tax returns for 2024 income are due April 15, 2025, and this date is firm unless you live in a state with a different deadline.
  • An extension gives you until October 15, 2025 to file, but taxes owed are still due April 15, and you will owe interest and penalties if you do not pay by then.
  • Estimated tax payments for self-employed people and others without withholding are due four times per year: April 15, June 17, September 15, and January 15 of the following year.
  • If April 15 falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day — in 2025 it is Monday because the 15th is a Monday.

Estimated tax payments if you are self-employed or have other income

If you do not have taxes withheld from a paycheck — because you are self-employed, a contractor, or have investment income — you may need to make estimated tax payments four times per year. These are quarterly payments to the IRS that cover the taxes you expect to owe on that income.

The four due dates for 2024 estimated taxes are:

  • April 15, 2024 (for income earned January through March)
  • June 17, 2024 (for income earned April through May)
  • September 16, 2024 (for income earned June through August)
  • January 15, 2025 (for income earned September through December)

You are not required to make estimated payments if your expected tax liability is under $1,000 for the year. If you miss a payment, you can still file your full return on April 15, 2025, but you will owe penalties and interest on the unpaid amount from the date it was due.

What happens if you file late or miss the April 15 deadline

If you do not file by April 15, 2025, the IRS will charge you a failure-to-file penalty. This penalty is usually 5 percent of the unpaid taxes for each month or part of a month that your return is late, up to 25 percent. You will also owe interest on any unpaid taxes, calculated daily from the original due date.

If you owe money and do not pay by April 15, a separate failure-to-pay penalty applies: 0.5 percent of unpaid taxes per month, up to 25 percent. Both penalties and interest accrue together, so the longer you wait, the more you owe beyond the original tax amount.

The one exception is if you file an extension. Form 4868 (Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return) gives you an automatic six-month extension, moving your filing deadline to October 15, 2025. You can file this extension electronically through tax software, by mail, or through a tax professional. However, the extension does not extend your payment deadline — taxes owed are still due April 15.

State tax deadlines and variations

Most states that tax income use April 15 as their deadline, but not all. A few states have different dates or tie their deadline to the federal deadline with a lag. For example, some states give you a few extra days after the federal deadline if you file electronically.

If you live in a state without income tax — Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, or Wyoming — you have no state return to file. If you live in New Hampshire or Tennessee, you may have tax on investment income only, not wages. Check your state's department of revenue or tax authority website for the exact deadline in your state, especially if you moved during 2024 or work in a state different from where you live.

When the April 15 deadline falls on a weekend or holiday

When April 15 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the IRS moves the deadline to the following Monday. When it falls on a federal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day that is not a holiday. In 2025, April 15 is a Monday, so the deadline is April 15, 2025 with no shift.

This rule applies to estimated tax payments as well. If a quarterly due date lands on a weekend or holiday, you have until the next business day to pay without penalty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to file a return if I did not earn much money in 2024?

You must file if your income exceeds the standard deduction for your filing status. For 2024, the standard deduction ranges from $14,600 for a single filer to $29,200 for married filing jointly. If your income is below that threshold, you do not have to file, though you may want to if taxes were withheld from your paychecks — you could get a refund.

What if I cannot pay the full amount I owe by April 15?

File your return on time anyway. You can set up a payment plan with the IRS for the balance. The IRS offers short-term plans (up to 180 days) at no cost and long-term installment agreements with a setup fee. Penalties and interest still apply to unpaid taxes, but filing on time reduces the failure-to-file penalty.

Can I file my 2024 return before January 1, 2025?

No. The IRS does not accept 2024 returns until January 27, 2025. This delay gives employers and financial institutions time to send W-2s and 1099s. If you file before that date, your return will be rejected and you will have to resubmit it.

Do I need to file if I am retired and only have Social Security income?

Usually no, unless your combined income (including half your Social Security benefits) exceeds the standard deduction. However, if taxes were withheld from your benefits, you may want to file to get a refund. Check the IRS website or speak with a tax professional about your specific situation.