Tax Day, the day when most Americans are required to file their federal income tax return, draws near. When are taxes due this year? U.S. income taxes are due Monday, April 15, 2024.

Details on Tax Day 2024

Extenuating circumstances can cause Tax Day to be changed. During the pandemic, Tax Day was pushed back to allow financial relief for taxpayers.1 And if Tax Day falls on a weekend, it’s usually moved to the following Monday.

Even when deadlines change, it’s worth considering filing as soon as possible, especially if you are owed a refund. You can file at any time until April 15, as the first day for filing your 2023 tax returns was January 29, 2024.

The quickest way to get your refund is by filing electronically with direct deposit. According to the IRS, most refunds are issued in less than 21 days.2

Read more: How long does it take to get a tax refund?

Will Tax Day be extended again?

The IRS has not extended the deadline past April. Currently, the tax filing deadline for your 2023 income taxes remains April 15.

Can I file for an extension?

The IRS allows taxpayers to file for an extension beyond the normal tax-filing deadline. You can receive a six-month extension for many reasons simply by filing IRS Form 4869, giving you until October 15 to file your return.

However, receiving an extension only extends the due date for filing your tax return. It doesn’t extend the due date for paying any taxes that may be due — you still must pay these by April 15. If you don’t, you could face late-payment penalties on top of the amount of tax that is due.

When are estimated taxes due?

Most employees have federal taxes withheld from their gross wages each pay period. For them, Tax Day primarily involves filing income tax returns and paying additional taxes due (if any) or claiming a tax refund.

But some people don’t have taxes withheld from wages by an employer. This includes independent contractors, self-employed individuals and those who earn money from tips or receive investment earnings. These individuals typically must make estimated tax payments according to a quarterly or monthly estimated tax schedule.

For the 2023 tax year, quarterly estimated tax payments were due on the following dates:

• First quarter: April 18, 2023
• Second quarter: June 15, 2023
• Third quarter: September 15, 2023
• Fourth quarter: January 16, 2024

If estimated taxes aren’t paid by the deadline, late-payment penalties could be assessed on the amount of taxes that’s due. Individuals who don’t pay their quarterly estimated tax by January 16, 2024, but file their 2023 tax return early, however, will not be assessed a penalty.

Looking for more information? Check out Empower's comprehensive guide to filing your taxes.