Key takeaways

• Federal income taxes for tax year 2025 are due Wednesday, April 15, 2026
• The IRS will likely begin accepting returns in late January 2026
• Most refunds arrive in under 21 days
• You can file Form 4868 for a 6-month filing extension to Oct. 15, 2026
• People with different income streams may need to pay estimated taxes, due quarterly

Taxes for 2025 are due April 15, 2026. You can likely file beginning in late January, and e-filing is typically the quickest way to get refunds faster. Filing extensions don’t extend payment deadlines. Self-employed and others without withholding must meet quarterly estimated tax due dates.

Tax Day is when most Americans are required to file their federal income tax return. When are taxes due this year? U.S. income taxes for tax year 2025 are due Wednesday, April 15, 2026.

Details on Tax Day 2026

Extenuating circumstances can cause Tax Day to be changed. During the pandemic, Tax Day was pushed back to allow financial relief for taxpayers.¹ And if Tax Day falls on a weekend, it’s usually moved to the following Monday.

Even when deadlines change, it’s worth considering filing as soon as possible, especially if you are owed a refund. Based on last year’s date of January 27, the first day for filing your 2025 tax returns will likely be in late January 2026, and you can file at any time until April 15.²

The quickest way to get your refund is by filing electronically with direct deposit. According to the IRS, most refunds are issued in less than 21 days.³

Read more: How long does it take to get a tax refund?

Frequently asked questions

Will Tax Day be extended again?

The IRS has not extended the deadline past April. Currently, the tax filing deadline for your 2025 income taxes remains April 15, 2026.

Can I file for an extension?

The IRS allows taxpayers to file for an extension beyond the normal tax-filing deadline. You can receive a six-month extension for many reasons simply by filing IRS Form 4868, giving you until October 15 to file your return.^4,5

However, receiving an extension only extends the due date for filing your tax return. It doesn’t extend the due date for paying any taxes that may be due — you still must pay these by April 15. If you don’t, you could face late-payment penalties on top of the amount of tax that is due.

Read more: How to file a tax extension: Everything you need to know

When are estimated taxes due?

Most employees have federal taxes withheld from their gross wages each pay period. For them, Tax Day primarily involves filing income tax returns and paying additional taxes due (if any) or claiming a tax refund.

But some people don’t have taxes withheld from wages by an employer. This includes independent contractors, self-employed individuals, and those who earn money from tips or receive investment earnings. These individuals typically must make estimated tax payments according to a quarterly or monthly estimated tax schedule.

For the 2025 tax year, these are the due dates for quarterly estimated tax payments:⁶

• First quarter: April 15, 2025
• Second quarter: June 16, 2025
• Third quarter: September 15, 2025
• Fourth quarter: January 15, 2026

If estimated taxes aren’t paid by the deadline, late-payment penalties could be assessed on the amount of taxes that’s due. Individuals who don’t pay their quarterly estimated tax by January 15, 2026, but file their 2025 tax return early will not be assessed a penalty.

Looking for more information? Check out Empower's comprehensive guide to filing your taxes.