Tax Day 2024: Filing Deadline and Other Due Dates

For most of us, the last day to file a 2023 federal income tax return was Monday, April 15, 2024.

The IRS said Friday that it had received more than 100 million returns, and tens of millions more were expected^[0]

There are exceptions to the April 15 deadline, of course, and we'll walk you through those. Plus, get to know other important tax deadlines and when you can expect your refund if you're owed one.

When are taxes due in 2024?

The deadline for filing a federal tax return was 11:59 p.m. Monday, April 15, 2024. Maine and Massachusetts residents have until April 17 because of state holidays.

Some people, such as certain military members, people affected by natural disasters, or Americans living abroad, may be eligible for automatic extensions.

» MORE: See which states have federal disaster relief tax extensions this year

When is the last day to file taxes?

The last day to file taxes was April 15, 2024. The IRS says the date and time in your time zone when your electronic return was transmitted determined whether it was on time^[0]

For paper filers, the IRS will consider your return on time if it was properly addressed, had enough postage, and was put in the mail and postmarked by the due date.

» Still need to file? NerdWallet's top picks for tax software

What if I didn't make the 2024 tax deadline?

If you weren't able to finish your return on time and you requested a six-month tax extension using Form 4868, your new deadline to file is Oct. 15. The IRS projected that 19 million taxpayers would request extensions in 2024.

However, remember that tax extensions move the filing deadline, not the payment deadline. If you owe taxes, that money was still due by April 15. The IRS encourages you to pay an estimate of what you owe as soon as possible to limit penalties and interest. If you can't pay your tax bill in full, the agency recommends paying what you can and setting up an installment plan.

What if I didn't get an extension?

• If you're due a refund, there's no IRS penalty for filing your return late, but consider filing quickly anyway to get your money back sooner. And remember that though you might not be hit with a penalty for filing late, you very likely still need to file a return. The IRS has a strict definition of who has to file a tax return based on annual income, among other factors.

• If you file late, owe taxes and didn't secure an extension in time, IRS penalties and interest will begin to accrue.

» MORE: What happens if you don't file your taxes on time?

When are state taxes due in 2024?

State income tax deadlines typically mirror the federal tax deadline, but some exceptions exist. In 2024, the following states have extended deadlines:

• Delaware: April 30.

• Hawaii: April 22.

• Iowa: April 30.

• Louisiana: May 15.

• Massachusetts: April 17.

• Maine: April 17.

• New Mexico: April 15 (paper); April 30 (e-filing).

• Oklahoma: April 15 (paper); April 20 (e-filing).

• Virginia: May 1.

Nine states — Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming — do not have a state-level income tax, but some filers living in Washington or New Hampshire who have substantial capital gains or investing income may have tax filing obligations.

If you live in a county that was affected by a natural disaster, the IRS might have extended your federal tax filing and payment due date — but keep in mind that not all state tax departments extend the same courtesy for state returns. If you have any questions about the due date of your return, make sure to check with your state's revenue department

» MORE: Curious about your state income taxes? Check your state's tax rate here

What are the other 2024 tax deadlines to know?

Here are a few more 2024 deadlines — and not all of them involve tallying up with the IRS.

When are taxes due in October?

If you filed an extension by Tax Day, your new filing deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024. Getting an extension gives you more time to file, but it does not give you more time to pay your taxes. Any tax you owe, or a good estimate of that amount, was due April 15. Interest and penalties apply to tax bills owed after April 15, and they add up until your balance is paid.

If you submit a full or partial payment of your tax bill using a debit/credit card, Direct Pay, or another method by the deadline and indicate that the payment is for a tax extension, Form 4868 is not required. Make sure to keep the payment confirmation number for your records^[0]

» MORE: 10 ways to make an IRS payment

When will I get my refund?

It depends on how you filed. The IRS says most people who filed electronically and chose direct deposit get their refund within 21 days.

Paper returns can take longer to process—up to four weeks or more in most cases. As of April 5, the IRS had issued more than $200 billion in refunds, mostly through direct deposit, and the average refund so far in 2024 is $3,011^[0]

If you've already filed, you can check the status of your return on the IRS website.

» MORE: How to track the status of your tax refund

Tax Day resources