When are taxes due? Here’s the last day to file, how to file an extension before Tuesday

And if you haven’t filed your taxes for 2025 yet, you’re cutting it close. Tax Day is fast approaching, and if you don’t know the status of your refund — or if you’ll get one — now’s the time to find out. With the deadline approaching, there’s a lot to know about the key dates, how to ask for extra time if you need it and how long you could wait for a refund, according to the Internal Revenue Service, which anticipates that nearly 140 million Americans will file taxes in 2023.

Your taxes are due on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. When April 15 falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline carries over to the following business day.” The deadline is extended to June 16, 2025, for Americans overseas. The timing matters, whether you’re filing electronically or mailing your return. For electronic submissions, your time zone and the date and time of your submission are what the IRS relies on to decide whether your return was timely filed. If you’re mailing a paper return, it must be properly addressed, postage must be paid, and the return must be postmarked on or before the due date.

If you are not quite ready to file by the deadline, the IRS has several options for requesting an extension. One is to file online for an automatic extension, using IRS Free File, which is open to everyone, no matter their income. Then there’s the traditional method of sending in Form 4868 — the Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File. You can also submit it via IRS e-filing partners or with assistance from a tax pro. When completing this form, estimate what you owe in taxes and then subtract any payments you made over the course of the year. Third, you can pay your estimated tax due online using one of the IRS payment options and check the box you are filing for an extension. This approach means you don’t have to file a separate extension form — and you’ll receive a confirmation number showing that the extension was granted.

There’s some good news for those living outside the United States: if you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien living abroad as of the original tax filing deadline, you’re entitled to an automatic two-month extension without filing anything.

Once you file your taxes, you’ll likely be wondering when your refund will arrive. The “ Where’s My Refund? tool. To access it, you’ll need your Social Security number or individual taxpayer ID number, your filing status and the exact refund amount on your return. Once you enter the information, the system will tell you if it received your return, if your refund has been approved or if it has been sent. When your refund is issued, it can take up to five days to appear in your bank account, or several weeks if you’re waiting for a check in the mail.

For the most part, the IRS issues refunds in a reasonably timely manner — most of them in less than three weeks if you filed electronically. But they warn taxpayers not to count on receiving their refunds by any date, particular if the funds are intended for either a large purchase or an important payment to make. If additional review is required, some returns may take longer to process.

There are a number of reasons your refund might be delayed. The IRS says common reasons for such letters include an error or missing information on the return, complications arising from identity theft or fraud, or certain adjustments to the child tax credit or the recovery rebate credit. Delays may also affect taxpayers who file for the earned income tax credit or the additional child tax credit in some cases. If you filed Form 8379 — called the Injured Spouse Allocation — the review process will likely take longer, too. And even once the IRS sends your refund, it can take a few extra days depending on how your bank or credit union processes everything.

Filing your taxes doesn’t need to be stressful, but with the deadline looming, you should definitely not wait until the last minute. Whether you need more time or only you’re just waiting for your refund, figuring out how the process works and acting correctly now can help prevent you from pulling your hair out later.