Tax Extension Deadline FY 2025-26 | Individuals & Business

Written by BooksMerge | Published: February 20, 2026

Summary
• The individual income tax returns must be filed by 15th April. If the date comes on any weekend or holiday, you can file Form 4868 to file for an extension until 15th October 2026.
• The Partnerships firm or S-Corporation must file by 15th March unless they operate on a fiscal year. You can get up to 6 months of extension until 15th September by requesting using Form 7004.
• Independent contractors and self-employed people must make quarterly estimated tax payments on already set dates throughout the year.

As tax season approaches, it’s essential for both individuals and businesses to stay on top of important filing dates. Understanding the tax extension deadline 2025 can help ensure your return is filed accurately and on time. Missing a deadline may result in costly penalties, interest, and additional fees.
In this guide, we cover everything you need to know — including when 2025 taxes are due for individuals and businesses, what happens if you miss a tax deadline, and how extensions work.

When are 2025 taxes due for individuals?

The tax deadline for individuals to file the 2025 tax returns is 15th April 2026. However, the due date is 15th April unless it falls on a weekend or a legal holiday. If it comes on any weekend or holiday, then you can file the tax return on the next business day. Usually, most of the individuals are calendar year filers.

When are 2025 taxes due for businesses?

The due date for businesses to file the tax return for 2025 is as follows;

Note: The federal deadlines consider a calendar year starting from Jan 1 to 31st Dec. However, businesses that have a fiscal year have their tax deadlines depending on the 15th day of the 3rd or 4th month after the end of the fiscal year. For example, the fiscal year that ends on September 30, the due date for filing is 15th January of the following year.

Important Tax Deadline and Dates for Individual Filers

The individual filers, including employees, retirees, independent contractors, gig workers, and self-employed individuals, have the following tax deadlines:

1. Jan 15th, 2026-

The tax payment is due for the 4th Quarter 2025. Whether you are self-employed or have other income without any tax withholding, you can make quarterly estimated tax payments.

2. Jan 26th, 2026-

This is the starting date when the IRS accepts and processes federal tax returns for the 2025 tax year.

3. Feb 2nd, 2026-

Make sure that you send the W-2 form by 31st January following the close of the tax year. If the date falls on any weekend or holiday, you can process it to the next business day.

4. Feb 2nd, 2026-

You are required to send the 1099 Form, including 1099-NEC and 1099-MISC, to report payments that don’t come from an employer. It is also filed when you get income from interest, dividends, prize winnings, rent, royalties, or brokerage. If 31st January falls on any weekend or holiday, then file it by the following business day.

5. Feb 16th, 2026-

If you selected to claim exemption from an employer withholding taxes from your paycheck last year by filing the W-4 Form. All you require is to re-file the W-4 form by 15th Feb each year. When you file this exemption request, you assume no tax liability this year and none in the last year.

6. April 1st 2026-

In case you turned 73 in 2025, you must file by 1st April 2026, to get the minimum distribution from your retirement accounts.

7. April 15th, 2026-

It is the tax deadline which falls on 15th April each year, but can be delayed when it falls on a weekend or a holiday. Also, it is the deadline for filing Form 4868 and requesting an extension.

8. April 15th, 2026-

You must utilize the IRS Form 1040-ES to compute how much tax liability you have for the tax year. If you overestimate how much liability you owe for a year and are due for a refund, you can select to receive that money now or apply it to the following year’s quarterly tax payments.

9. June 15th, 2026-

The quarterly estimated taxes show an equal quarterly share of your estimated income tax liability. You have to make the first payment in three and a half months, the second payment in five and a half months. Whereas the third payment must be made in eight and a half months, and the fourth payment must be made in 12 and a half months.

10. September 15th, 2026-

Herein, the tax payment is due for the third quarter of 2026.

11. October 15th, 2026-

If you select to file an extension request on your tax return, then 15th October is the due date for filing the tax return.

12. December 31st, 2026-

You have to take a minimum distribution for individuals age 73 or older by the end of 2026. After doing your first RMD (for 2025) by 1st April 2026, if you turned 73 in 2025, you must take the 2026 RMD by the end of the year.

13. January 15th 2027-

If you select an option to pay 100% of your last year’s tax liability, then any unpaid taxes will be due when you file your 2026 individual tax return by the April 27th deadline.

Tax Deadline and Dates For Businesses

For the partnerships such as LLCs, C Corps, and S Corps, the following are the tax deadlines that you must meet;

1. January 13th, 2026-  On this date, the tax season begins.

2. February 2nd, 2026- The employer has to send the W-2s Form to their employees.

3. February 2nd, 2026- You have to send certain 1099 tax forms.

4. March 16th, 2026- The businesses that are taxed as partnerships and S corporations must file Form 1065 or Form 1120-S by 16th March 2026 for the calendar year. If your business runs as per the fiscal year, you must file the tax return by the 15th day of the third month following the close of the tax year.

5. April 15th 2026- Businesses running as C Corporations must file the Form 1120 by 15th April, 2026, if they run a business in a calendar year. For fiscal year businesses, file the return by the 15th day of the fourth month following the close of your tax year.

6. September 15th, 2026- The deadline for filing the extended partnership and S corporation returns is 15th September 2026.

7. October 15th, 2026- The 15th of October 2026 is the deadline for extended C corporation returns.

What if I miss a tax deadline?

If you miss a tax deadline, then you have two different options. The options may depend upon what deadline was missed and if you owe money or are due a refund.

Case 1: If you missed a tax deadline and owed a refund

In case you have overpaid for the 2025 tax year, you won’t have to pay any penalty for late filing of the tax return. But it’s advised to file a tax return as soon as possible.

You have three years from the due date of the tax return to claim a tax refund. In short, for the 2025 tax returns, the due date falls in April 2026, and the window shuts down in 2029. After three years, your unclaimed tax refunds will eventually become the property of the U.S. Treasury.

Case 2: If you miss a tax deadline and owe taxes

For instance, if you miss a tax deadline and owe money to the IRS, then it’s mandatory to file the tax return as soon as possible. However, until you file the tax return, the IRS will charge you heavy tax penalties till the time you pay the due balance.

What happens if you miss an estimated tax payment deadline?

If you miss an estimated tax payment, then make a payment asap. However, the tax penalties and interest the IRS charges completely rely on how much money you owe and how late you are in filing taxes. But you can reduce the tax penalties by making the tax payment asap.

In case you aren’t sure how much you must pay in estimated taxes for the year and you don’t want to pay the wrong amount, then you can pay 90% of the estimated current year tax bill. Otherwise, you can pay 100% of your last year’s tax bill. As a result, it will help prevent the underpayment penalty.

What if the tax filing deadline falls on a weekend?

If the tax filing deadline comes on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, then you can pay the tax return on the next business day.

When is the last day to file a personal tax return?

For individuals, the due date of filing taxes is 15th April 2026 without any extension. However, you can also submit the Form 4868 to request a filing extension for filing the tax return later during the year.

• The taxpayers can directly mail to the IRS for the tax extension and refer to Form 4868: Application for Automatic Extension of Time to file U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. Later on, you can print and send the form to the IRS address of your state.

However, there are numerous other important tax deadlines that you must follow to prevent the tax penalty or late filing fees. Let’s learn about them in detail:

When is the last day to file a business tax return?

• If you file for the partnership or S corporation, then the last date to file the taxes is 15th March.
• For C corporations, the deadline is 15th April.
• The businesses running as per a non-calendar tax year, their federal tax return falls on the 15th day of either the third or fourth month following the end of the company’s fiscal year. It completely depends on your business type.

Conclusion

Meeting the tax deadlines 2025 may be a bit challenging for individuals and businesses unless they have a proper understanding of how to file it. With this blog’s help, you can now easily meet the tax deadline and avoid paying tax penalties.
Furthermore, if you still require any guidance, connect with our BooksMerge tax professionals or call +1-866-513-4656 for instant help.