When are taxes due? Essential deadlines to remember

When someone mentions the tax deadline, most of us think of a day in April when taxes are  due. While that’s the main deadline, there are other important tax season dates to keep in  mind as a taxpayer — including estimated tax payment due dates and extension filing deadlines. 

While not a federally recognized holiday, tax day is when individual federal taxes are due  to the Internal Revenue Service. Tax day usually falls on April 15 unless there is an  exception. If April 15 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, tax day is the next business day. Natural disasters can also shift the tax filing deadline in certain cases. 

The deadline for paying taxes is midnight on April 15 in the time zone you’re in. 

• If you file via mail, the IRS will consider your return filed on time if it was  postmarked by the due date. 

• If you file online or through tax software, the IRS will use the date when your filed  return was transmitted to determine if it was on time. It must be transmitted on  or before midnight on Tax Day to avoid penalties. 

When do you mail in your tax payment if you’ve e-filed? 

While completing your return means the paperwork is done, you’re not  quite ready to check taxes off your to-do list. If you owe taxes to the IRS or state tax  authority, you’ll still need to mail in your payment on time. If you’ve e-filed on or near the  tax deadline, go ahead and mail your tax payment — don’t wait for confirmation your return was accepted. You should mail your tax payment by midnight of the tax deadline date. 

Instead of mailing a check, you can have the funds directly debited (withdrawn) from your  bank account. This is an easy and safe way to ensure your payment reaches the IRS in time. 

Federal tax extension deadline, plus tax payment details 

Need an extension to file your taxes? You can get an automatic six-month extension of your tax filing due date by submitting IRS Form 4868: Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File. The form must be postmarked on or before the original due date for filing.  Check your local post office’s hours so you can be sure to have the payment postmarked  before they close. You can also e-file an extension. You just have to submit the return by the tax deadline. 

The due date to file with extension is Oct. 15. Keep in mind, an extension only gives you more time to submit your tax return forms, not more time to pay your taxes. So, if you’re  wondering “If you owe taxes, when are they due” – the answer is that payments are due on tax day as described above or else a penalty could apply. 

Quarterly payment due dates for estimated taxes 

If you don’t pay enough or any income tax for the year through tax withholding, you’ll need to make estimated tax payments by certain due dates using Form 1040-ES. If the due date falls on a weekend or holiday, the due date is the next business day. 

“When are taxes due (2024) for quarterly payments? Here are the dates to jot down: 

• Jan. 15 — Pay your fourth payment of your estimated tax by this due date. You  won’t need to make the fourth payment if you file your tax return and pay the  entire balance due by Jan. 31. 

• April 15 —The first payment of your estimated tax is due for the tax year.

• June 15 — The second payment of your estimated tax is due. 

• Sept. 15 — The third payment of your estimated tax is due. 

Retirement-related

tax filing deadlines 

April 15 — It’s the last day to set up an IRA or make IRA contributions for the tax year — even if you get a tax extension. 

October 1 — This is the deadline for establishing a SIMPLE IRA. 

October 15 — For those who have filed an extension, it’s the last day for recharacterizing  an IRA contribution for the year if you filed your return on time. Note that Roth IRA  conversions for tax years 2018 through 2025 can’t be recharacterized as Traditional IRAs. 

Additional tax-related dates and reminders 

10th of each month — By the 10th day of each month, tip earners should report tips of $20  or more you made during the previous month in writing to your employers. This includes  tips paid with cash, checks, and credit cards. Use Form 4070A in Publication 1244 or any  other daily record to record your tip income for the month. If the 10th falls on a weekend or  holiday, the due date is the next business day. 

Jan 15 — If at least two-thirds of your total gross income comes from farming or fishing,  you should pay your required estimated tax using Form 1040-ES on or before Jan. 15.

Jan. 31 — W-2s are due from your employer. Forms 1099 are due from payers of interest,  dividends, and other specified types of income. 

Feb. 15 — If you were exempt from income tax withholding for 2024, you must file a new  Form W-4 to continue your exemption for the next tax year. 

March 1 — Farmers and fishermen need to file their returns and pay estimated taxes on or  before March 1 to avoid a penalty if both apply: 

• You farm or fish and at least two-thirds of your total gross income comes from  these activities 

• You don’t make any estimated tax payments. (Those who made a qualifying  payment by Jan. 16, 2024, can wait until the regular tax deadline to file and still  avoid estimated tax penalties.) 

If you miss the March 1 tax deadline because of severe weather or resulting power outages,  you can request a waiver of any estimated tax penalties. You don’t have to be in a state or  federally declared disaster area for this. To request the waiver, complete and file Form  2210-F: Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Farmers and Fishermen with your return. 

May 15 —Tax-exempt returns (Form 990 series including the 990-N “postcard) are due for  calendar year organizations. 

Tax filing

deadline for expats 

June 15 — File tax Form 1040 and pay any tax, interest, and penalties due if you’re a U.S.  citizen, resident alien, or you’re an active military member living and working outside the  U.S. and Puerto Rico. 

If you need additional time to file your return, file Form 4868 to obtain four additional  months to file. If you’re a member of the armed forces serving in a combat zone, you might  be able to further extend your tax filing deadline. 

—H&R Block