Tax Day is quickly approaching, and many taxpayers may be wondering if they qualify for a tax extension and how to obtain one. The IRS stated in January that they anticipate over half of all tax returns this year will be filed with the assistance of a tax professional and again encouraged taxpayers to use a trusted professional to avoid potential scams.
For those who have not yet filed, here’s what you should know about the 2025 tax deadline and how to request an extension.
When is the 2025 tax deadline?
As usual, the tax deadline falls on April 15, which is a Tuesday in 2025.
Despite the April 15 deadline, the IRS predicted in January that many individual tax returns for the 2024 tax year would be filed before this date.
As of , the IRS reported that they had received 101,422,000 individual income tax returns for the 2025 tax filing season.
Have any states delayed their tax deadlines for 2025?
Over the past year, natural disasters, including , hurricanes in and , and floods in New York, have impacted U.S. citizens across the country.
have postponed their tax deadlines due to these disasters, although some extensions are limited to specific populations within those states.
According to the IRS, affected taxpayers have until Oct. 15, 2025, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.
Victims of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton in states including , Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, along with parts of Tennessee and Virginia, have extensions to file for the 2024 fiscal year.
Areas with a May 1 extension for disaster relief include Juneau in Alaska and Chaves County in New Mexico, while those affected by severe weather in Kentucky now have until “to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments.”
To determine eligibility for a state’s extension, the IRS provides a dedicated page where taxpayers can select their state(s) to check for any delayed deadlines.
The IRS also offers a page for disaster victims, along with helplines for general questions about individual tax filing at 1-800-829-1040 and business tax filing at 1-800-829-4933.
What is a tax extension?
A standard federal tax return extension grants taxpayers an additional six months to file their taxes beyond the April 15 deadline.
However, it is important to remember that this extension applies only to “filing” your returns. The IRS emphasizes that “an extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay.”
How can you file for a tax extension?
You can file for a tax extension .
Taxpayers can use to electronically request an automatic tax-filing extension.
Alternatively, when paying taxes through —such as via wire transfer or credit card—on the IRS website, taxpayers can indicate that they are paying as part of filing for an extension.
Finally, individuals can file , also known as the “Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.” Businesses can apply for an extension using .
Form 4868 can be filed by mail, online through an IRS e-filing partner, or via a tax professional.
Applicants must include their name, address, Social Security number, and estimated payment amounts for the 2025 tax filing season. While taxes still need to be paid when filing for an extension, there is no fee to submit Form 4868.
What is the deadline to file for a tax extension?
The deadline to file for an extension is the same as Tax Day, Tuesday, April 15.