What if I missed the April 15, 2026 filing deadline?

If you owe taxes on your 2025 return, file your return as soon as possible, even if you can't pay your tax bill right away. The late-filing penalty can be up to 10 times higher than the late-payment penalty, and the longer you wait, the higher the penalty.

If you're getting a refund, you have until April 15, 2029 (or October 15, 2029 if you filed an extension) to file and claim your refund. There's no late-filing penalty in this case, but if you don't file within the allotted time frame, the US Treasury keeps your refund.