04/14/2026
Tax Day is Wednesday, April 15, this year, and the Internal Revenue Service expects most Americans to honor that deadline. But, what happens if you file your taxes late?
Here's what to do if you know you are going to be filing your 2025 tax returns after the Wednesday deadline, or if you find yourself filing later than expected.
How to get extension on taxes
The best thing to do if you know you are going to be late on filing your 2025 returns is to let the IRS know ahead of time. If you fill out an extension form by April 15, you could have until Oct. 15 to file your taxes.
The extension form is known as "Form 4869, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return." Just like your returns, the extension form is available for free online, and you can also file by mail.
As the IRS notes, getting an extension to file your taxes does not grant you an extension of time to pay.
Penalties for filing late and for paying late
The penalty for filing late increases based on how late you file. The IRS starts by charging a 5% penalty per month for any taxes due. That number will increase each month before capping out at 25% five months later. If you file more than 60 days late, you will be charged either a minimum of $525 or 100% of the taxes owed to the IRS.
There is a separate penalty for paying taxes late as opposed to applying late. For each month that taxes go unpaid, the IRS increases the penalty by 0.5% until the penalty is 25% of the original owed amount.
Disputing penalties
The IRS breaks down potential reasonable causes into categories, including possible exceptions for death or serious illness, system issues with electronic filing or natural disasters.
Tax returns have a toll-free number that filers can call if they want to dispute any penalties.
"Reasonable cause is determined on a case-by-case basis, considering all the facts and circumstances of your situation," IRS.gov says.
Automatic tax extensions
For circumstances like natural disasters, active military service and living abroad, there are often automatic tax extensions available. For example, if you are an active-duty military member, you could get 180 or more days of an extension to file your tax returns. Those living abroad on Tax Day can get an automatic 2-month extension on their returns.
Three states are offering victims of natural disasters tax return extensions beyond April 15:
• Hawaii: People impacted by flooding and mudslides due to the severe storms that began on March 10 are eligible for an extension until July 8, according to the IRS. This includes people who live in Hawaii, Honolulu, Kauai and Maui counties or have businesses in those four counties.
• Montana: Any business or resident who was impacted by the severe storms and flooding that happened on Dec. 10, 2025, is eligible for extension until May 10.
• Tennessee: Tennesseans who were impacted by the winter storm in January are eligible for an extension until May 22. This includes residents or people who have a business in nearly two dozen eligible counties.
