Wednesday, April 15, is the federal tax filing deadline for 2025 returns in the United States, and taxpayers who cannot finish in time have until midnight to request a six-month extension that pushes the filing due date to Oct. 15, the Internal Revenue Service said. The extension grants extra time to file — not extra time to pay. Filers who owe taxes must still submit an estimated payment by Wednesday to avoid penalties and interest, the IRS said.
The IRS offers several free resources for lower-income filers, and tax professionals warn that overlooking digitally delivered tax documents is among the most common errors that catch last-minute filers off guard.
How to file an extension
Taxpayers who need more time can request an extension using their preferred tax software, the IRS Free File tool, or by submitting a paper form by mail, the IRS said. The request must be made by Wednesday’s deadline.
The extension moves the filing due date to Oct. 15. It does not postpone the obligation to pay. Taxpayers who expect to owe money should estimate the amount and submit payment by April 15 to avoid accumulating penalties and interest on the balance, the IRS said.
Filers expecting a refund face no penalty for waiting — they will receive their money when they eventually file, according to the IRS.
Special categories
Military members and U.S. taxpayers living and working outside the country receive an automatic two-month extension, moving their filing deadline to June 15, the IRS said. Most payment obligations for those filers remain due April 15.
What to gather
Filers generally need their Social Security number, W-2 forms from each employer, relevant 1099 forms for self-employment or unemployment income, savings and investment records, and documentation of potential deductions such as medical expenses, educational costs, or charitable donations, according to the IRS.
Tax preparers recommend collecting all documents in one place before beginning and comparing records to the prior year’s return if financial circumstances changed significantly, the IRS said.
Common errors
One mistake that catches filers off guard involves digital statements. Taxpayers who have switched to paperless delivery from financial institutions or employers may not receive physical copies of tax documents and may overlook them altogether.
“If you didn’t get anything in the mail doesn’t mean that there isn’t an information document out there that you need to be aware of and report accordingly,” Tom O’Saben, director of tax content and government relations at the National Association of Tax Professionals, previously told the Associated Press.
Filers who worked multiple jobs in 2025 must obtain a W-2 from each employer, the IRS said. The agency also recommends verifying that the name on the tax return matches the name on file with the Social Security Administration, noting that mismatches — common after a marriage, for example — can cause processing delays.
Free resources
The IRS Free File program offers no-cost guided preparation for filers who earned $89,000 or less in 2025. The IRS interactive tax assistant tool provides question-and-answer guidance for filers working through forms independently.
Two IRS-funded programs extend free help to specific populations. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, known as VITA, serves filers who earn $69,000 or less annually, those with disabilities, and those with limited English proficiency. The Tax Counseling for the Elderly program, or TCE, is available to taxpayers 60 and older. Locations for both programs can be found through the IRS website.
Filers with unresolved tax disputes can also access low-income taxpayer clinics nationwide, which typically provide services in multiple languages including Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese, according to the IRS.