Finance

If you missed the tax deadline and didn’t request an extension, here’s what the IRS suggests you do

The IRS still wants your tax return, even if April 15 passed you by, and you may be facing penalties in certain cases.

Jonathan Ernst

Sports-lover turned journalist, born and bred in Scotland, with a passion for football (soccer). He’s also a keen follower of NFL, NBA, golf and tennis, among others, and always has an eye on the latest in science, tech and current affairs. As Managing Editor at AS USA, uses background in operations and marketing to drive improvements for reader satisfaction.

Update: Apr 19th, 2025 12:06 EDT

If you missed the April 15 federal tax deadline and didn’t file for an extension, you’re not out of options – but you could be out of money if you wait much longer. According to the IRS, your next move depends on one key factor: whether you owe taxes or expect a refund.

What if I owe the IRS?

If you didn’t file your 2024 federal return by April 15 and you owe taxes, interest and penalties are already adding up. The IRS recommends you file as soon as possible - even if you can’t pay in full. That helps reduce the “failure-to-file” penalty, which is worse than the “failure-to-pay” penalty.

Here’s how that breaks down: the failure-to-file penalty is typically 5% of your unpaid taxes per month, up to 25%. The failure-to-pay penalty is smaller – 0.5% per month, also up to 25%. But the clock starts ticking right after the deadline.

If you missed the April 15 tax deadline, you can avoid accruing penalties and interest by filing now and paying as much of the taxes you owe as soon as you can. https://t.co/D6gSHvlDwX pic.twitter.com/BqZhHLrX18
— IRSnews (@IRSnews) April 17, 2025

If you’re short on cash, the IRS encourages you to pay what you can now, then apply for a payment plan. You can do that online, and it could limit the damage from further penalties and interest.

What if I am owed a refund?

If you’re owed a refund and missed the deadline, the IRS isn’t going to penalize you – but they still want you to file. That’s mostly for your benefit. There’s a three-year window to claim a refund before it disappears back into government coffers, so waiting too long could mean giving up your money entirely.

You’ll still get your refund, just not until the IRS processes your return. If you e-file, that usually takes about three weeks, sometimes less. Mailed returns take longer, and amended ones even longer than that. For the fastest refund, file electronically and use direct deposit, not a paper check.

To check where your money is, use the IRS’s Where’s My Refund tool online or the IRS2Go mobile app. You can also call 800-829-1954, but expect a wait.

What if I had a valid reason for missing the deadline?

Some people do get extra time. If you live overseas, serve in a combat zone, or support military operations, you may already have an automatic extension. The same goes for victims of federally declared disasters - I talked about that in a recent article.

Ahead of the U.S. filing deadline on April 15, our @LinseyDavis has a look at the numbers behind the often confusing American tax system and how other countries make the process easier for taxpayers. pic.twitter.com/oCqoOfxY6W
— ABC News Live (@ABCNewsLive) April 15, 2025

Can I still get an extension now?

No. The deadline to request a six-month filing extension was also April 15. If you didn’t request one, you’re now considered late. And remember: even if you had filed for an extension, it would only give you more time to file – not to pay.