Tax deadlines to keep in mind with Tax Day coming up
Tax deadlines to keep in mind with Tax Day coming up
Daniel de Visé, USA TODAYSat, April 4, 2026 at 9:07 AM UTC
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Tax Day is coming, and if you are the sort who works best against a deadline, we can give you several to pencil into your calendar.
When is the filing deadline for 2026?
Taxes are due by April 15, which falls on a Wednesday this year. If you don't expect to file by then, you can request a six-month extension.
What happens if I miss the tax deadline?
If you fail to file your federal tax return on time, the standard penalty is a whopping 5% of any tax due for every month the return is late, up to 25% of the unpaid balance. If you file a return but fail to pay any taxes you owe, or if you get an extension, you typically face a much smaller monthly penalty of 0.5% of any unpaid amount.
Are there exceptions to the April 15 tax deadline?
Yes. The IRS extends the annual tax deadline for taxpayers who live or do business in areas afflicted by disasters.
A complete list of disaster-related extensions is on their website. Be forewarned: The list looks pretty short this year, including extended deadlines for some tax filings in Alaska, Montana and Washington state.
Deadline for filing income tax returns that have received extensions
If you request an extension, you'll have until Oct. 15 to file your return. Importantly, that doesn't buy you more time to pay your taxes. You'll still have to pay any amount due to avoid penalties, but you'll have more time to complete your tax forms.
1099 deadline
If you're a freelancer, an independent contractor or earn income from other sources outside of a traditional job, you should have received a 1099 tax form by Feb. 15. Employers are generally required to send the forms by the end of January.
W-2 deadline
Tax Day is April 15, in case you needed a reminder.
Your employer is also required to have sent you a W-2 by Jan. 31.
Quarterly tax due dates
If you earn income that isn't subject to withholding taxes, you're typically required to make estimated tax payments to the IRS. You can do this every quarter or through one annualized estimate. The annualized estimate is due on April 15.
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The quarterly payments for 2026 are due by the following dates:
◾ First payment: April 15.
◾ Second payment: June 15.
◾ Third payment: Sept. 15.
◾ Fourth payment: Jan. 15, 2027.
Where's my refund?
If you're expecting a refund, you can track its progress at the Where's my refund? page on the IRS website. Your refund status should be available 24 hours after you've filed a 2025 return electronically. If you file a paper return, wait four weeks.
Your refund will take longer to arrive if you file a paper return. The typical wait, according to the IRS, is three weeks after you e-file, six weeks (or more) after the agency receives a return in the mail.
One more tip: You'll get your refund a lot faster if you receive it by direct deposit.
Daniel de Visé covers personal finance for USA Today.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: It's Tax Season 2026. When are taxes due? When will I get my refund?
Source: “AOL Money”
