You file 2023 tax returns in 2024, not 2024 returns

When you file taxes in 2024, you are reporting income and deductions from 2023 — the calendar year that ended on December 31, 2023. The tax year and the calendar year are the same thing for most people. You do not file a return for the year you are currently in.

The IRS calls this a calendar year tax return. Your 2023 return covers January 1 through December 31, 2023. You file it between January 1 and the tax important date in 2024, which is April 15, 2024, unless that date falls on a weekend or holiday.

This matters because people sometimes confuse the filing year with the tax year. If someone tells you "I'm filing my 2024 taxes," they mean they are filing in 2024 for income earned in 2023. The return itself is labeled 2023.

Key Takeaways

  • Tax returns filed in 2024 report income from 2023, not from 2024.
  • The tax year runs January 1 through December 31 of the same calendar year.
  • The important date to file your 2023 return is April 15, 2024, unless that date falls on a weekend or holiday.
  • Most people use a calendar year; some self-employed people and businesses use a fiscal year instead, which can end on a different date.
  • Your W-2 forms and 1099 forms for 2023 income arrive by January 31, 2024, so you have the documents you need before the filing important date.

Why the filing year and tax year are different dates

The IRS gives you time after the tax year ends to gather documents, calculate deductions, and file your return. You do not have to file on December 31. Instead, the law sets a important date several months into the following year.

For 2023 income, that important date is April 15, 2024. This is called Tax Day. If you cannot file by then, you can request an extension, which moves your important date to October 15, 2024. An extension gives you more time to file, but it does not extend the important date to pay taxes owed — if you owe money, the IRS charges interest and penalties on any amount not paid by April 15.

Your employer or the people who paid you send you forms showing what they reported to the IRS. W-2 forms from employers and 1099 forms from other payers must reach you by January 31, 2024. This timing ensures you have the documents you need before you file.

Calendar year versus fiscal year

Most people file on a calendar year basis. Your tax year is January 1 through December 31. But some self-employed people, partnerships, and corporations use a fiscal year instead — a 12-month period that ends on a date other than December 31.

If you are self-employed and use a fiscal year, your tax year might end on June 30, September 30, or another date. You would file your return by the 15th day of the fourth month after your fiscal year ends. For example, if your fiscal year ends June 30, you file by October 15.

Most people do not choose a fiscal year. You use a calendar year unless you have a business reason to use a different period and the IRS has approved it. If you are an employee with a W-2 job, you always file on a calendar year.

What documents show the tax year

Your tax forms are labeled with the year they cover. A W-2 form for 2023 wages shows "2023" at the top. A 1099-NEC form for self-employment income earned in 2023 also shows "2023." When you file your 2023 return, you use the 2023 versions of these forms.

Your tax return itself — the Form 1040 or other return you file — is also labeled with the tax year. The form you file in April 2024 says "2023" on it. This label tells the IRS which year of income you are reporting.

If you file late, the year on your return does not change. If you file your 2023 return in June 2024, it is still a 2023 return. The IRS tracks when you filed it, but the return itself always shows the tax year it covers.

When you might file for a different tax year

Most people file one return per year for one tax year. But some situations create exceptions. If you file an amended return, you are filing for a tax year that already passed. An amended return uses Form 1040-X and covers a specific prior year — you might file an amended 2022 return in 2024 if you found an error or missed income.

If you are self-employed and change from a calendar year to a fiscal year, or vice versa, you might file a short-year return that covers fewer than 12 months. This is rare and requires IRS approval.

If someone dies, their final return covers the tax year up to the date of death. If they died on June 15, 2023, their final return covers January 1 through June 15, 2023, and is filed as a 2023 return.

How to know which forms to use

The IRS releases new tax forms each year. The 2023 forms become available in late 2023 and early 2024. When you file in 2024, you use the 2023 versions of all forms — Form 1040, Schedule C, Schedule A, and any others you need.

If you use tax software, the software automatically loads the correct year's forms when you start. If you read forms from IRS.gov, make sure you read the 2023 versions, not 2024 or 2022. The year appears in the form number or title.

Your employer and other payers send you 2023 forms by January 31, 2024. Use those forms when you file. Do not use 2024 forms for 2023 income, and do not use 2023 forms for 2024 income.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I file my 2023 return in May 2024, is it late?

Yes. The important date to file your 2023 return is April 15, 2024. If you file after that date without an extension, the IRS charges a failure-to-file penalty. You can request an extension before April 15 to move your important date to October 15, 2024, but you must request it on time.

Do I file a 2024 return in 2024?

No. In 2024, you file your 2023 return. You will file your 2024 return in 2025, between January 1 and April 15, 2025. The return you file is always for the prior calendar year.

What if I have income from both 2023 and 2024?

You report 2023 income on your 2023 return, filed in 2024. You report 2024 income on your 2024 return, filed in 2025. Each return covers only the income earned during that tax year. If you received a 1099 form dated 2023, it goes on your 2023 return.

Can I file my 2023 return before January 1, 2024?

No. The IRS does not accept 2023 returns before January 1, 2024. Filing opens on January 1 each year. If you try to file before then, the IRS will reject it.

What year goes on my tax return if I file in 2025?

If you file in 2025, you are filing your 2024 return — the return for income earned in 2024. The year on the return matches the calendar year the income was earned in, not the year you file it.