The main tax important date for 2024
The federal income tax return important date for 2024 is April 15, 2025. That is when most people file their 1040 form and pay any taxes owed. If April 15 falls on a weekend or holiday, the important date moves to the next business day — in 2025, April 15 is a Monday, so the important date stays April 15.
If you cannot file by April 15, you can request an automatic extension that gives you until October 15, 2025. An extension delays the filing important date but does not delay the payment important date — taxes owed are still due April 15, even if you file later. Paying by April 15 avoids interest and penalties on the unpaid balance.
Estimated tax payments work differently. If you are self-employed, a contractor, or earn income that does not have taxes withheld, you make four quarterly payments throughout the year rather than one lump sum on April 15. These are due on specific dates tied to the income you earned in that quarter.
Key Takeaways
- The 2024 tax return is due April 15, 2025, and that is also when any taxes owed must be paid to avoid penalties and interest.
- An extension moves your filing important date to October 15, 2025, but does not extend the payment important date — taxes are still due April 15.
- Estimated quarterly tax payments are due April 15, June 17, September 16, and January 15 of the following year if you are self-employed or have income without withholding.
- If you owe back taxes from prior years, those have separate important date and payment arrangements that depend on when the tax was assessed.
Estimated quarterly tax payment dates for 2024 income
If you owe estimated taxes, you pay in four installments tied to when you earned the income. The first quarter covers January through March income and is due April 15, 2025. The second quarter covers April through May income and is due June 16, 2025. The third quarter covers June through August income and is due September 15, 2025. The fourth quarter covers September through December income and is due January 15, 2026.
You calculate estimated taxes using Form 1040-ES, which walks you through the math based on your expected income for the year. You can pay by check, electronic transfer, or through the IRS Direct Pay system at irs.gov. If you underpay estimated taxes, you may owe a penalty when you file your return, even if you get a refund overall.
Some people adjust their estimated payments during the year if their income changes. You can pay more in one quarter and less in another, or skip a quarter if your income drops. The IRS looks at whether you paid enough overall by the end of the year, not whether each individual payment was exactly right.
important date for self-employed people and business owners
If you are self-employed, you file Schedule C with your 1040 and pay self-employment tax on top of income tax. Self-employment tax covers Social Security and Medicare, and it is calculated on your net profit. The important date to file and pay is still April 15, 2025, unless you request an extension.
Business owners who file as an S-corporation or partnership have different important date. An S-corp files Form 1120-S by March 15, 2025, which is earlier than the individual return important date. A partnership files Form 1065 by March 15, 2025. These are filing important date only — the partners or shareholders then report their share of income on their own 1040 returns due April 15.
If you have employees, you also withhold and deposit payroll taxes on a schedule set by the IRS. Deposits are usually due monthly or semi-weekly depending on how much you owe, not on April 15. Payroll tax important date are separate from income tax important date and have their own penalty structure if missed.
What happens if you miss a important date
If you do not file by April 15, the IRS charges a failure-to-file penalty of 5 percent of the unpaid tax for each month you are late, up to 25 percent total. If you do not pay by April 15, the failure-to-pay penalty is 0.5 percent per month, also up to 25 percent. Both penalties accrue interest on top, calculated daily at a rate the IRS sets each quarter.
If you file late but pay on time, you only owe the failure-to-file penalty, not the failure-to-pay penalty. If you pay late but file on time, you only owe the failure-to-pay penalty. Filing an extension request by April 15 stops the failure-to-file penalty from running, but does not stop the failure-to-pay penalty if you owe money.
If you cannot pay the full amount by April 15, you can set up a payment plan with the IRS. A short-term plan (120 days or less) has no setup fee. A long-term installment agreement has a setup fee that varies by payment method, usually between $31 and $225. Interest and penalties continue to accrue on the unpaid balance until it is paid in full.
State and local tax important date
Most states that have an income tax follow the federal important date of April 15. However, some states have different dates or different rules. A few states do not have income tax at all. You need to check your state's tax authority website to confirm the important date for your state.
Local taxes vary widely. Some cities and counties tax income, some tax property, and some tax both. Property tax important date are often different from income tax important date and may be monthly, quarterly, or annual depending on where you live. If you own rental property or a business, you may owe local taxes in multiple jurisdictions.
Tax payments for prior years and back taxes
If you owe taxes from a year before 2024, those have already passed their original important date. The IRS assesses penalties and interest on those amounts, and they do not go away if you ignore them. You can pay back taxes in full, set up a payment plan, or request an offer in compromise if you cannot pay what you owe.
Back taxes accrue interest at a rate set by the IRS each quarter, currently around 8 percent per year. Penalties also continue to accrue. The longer you wait to address back taxes, the larger the total amount owed becomes. If the IRS files a tax lien against you, it affects your credit and your ability to borrow money.
How to pay your 2024 taxes
You can pay federal taxes by check, money order, electronic funds withdrawal, credit or debit card, or through IRS Direct Pay. Direct Pay is free and lets you schedule a payment for a future date. Credit and debit card payments charge a processing fee, usually 1.87 to 2.35 percent of the amount paid.
When you file your return, if you owe money, you can authorize the IRS to withdraw it from your bank account on a date you choose. This is the fastest and cheapest way to pay. If you are mailing a check, mail it to the address shown in the tax form instructions — it varies by state.
If you use a tax software or hire a tax preparer, they can file your return electronically and set up payment at the same time. The payment important date is still April 15 even if you file early, so do not assume filing in February means you can pay in March.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if April 15 is a weekend or holiday?
The important date moves to the next business day. In 2025, April 15 is a Monday, so the important date is April 15. If April 15 were a Saturday, the important date would be Monday, April 17. The IRS observes federal holidays, so if the important date fell on a holiday, it would move to the next day that is not a holiday or weekend.
Do I have to pay estimated taxes if I have a job?
No. If you have a job and your employer withholds taxes from your paycheck, you do not make estimated payments. Estimated taxes are for self-employed people, contractors, and others whose income does not have taxes withheld. If you have both a job and side income, you may owe estimated taxes on the side income only.
Can I pay my taxes in installments?
Yes. If you cannot pay the full amount by April 15, you can set up a payment plan with the IRS. Short-term plans (120 days or less) have no setup fee. Long-term installment agreements have a setup fee and allow you to pay over several months or years. Interest and penalties continue to accrue on the unpaid balance.
What if I file my return but do not pay by April 15?
You will owe a failure-to-pay penalty of 0.5 percent per month on the unpaid amount, plus interest. The penalty caps at 25 percent. Filing on time but paying late is better than both filing and paying late, because you avoid the failure-to-file penalty, which is larger.
Do I need to file if I did not earn much money?
It depends on how much you earned and your filing status. The IRS sets a threshold each year below which you do not have to file. For 2024, the threshold is around $14,000 for a single person and $28,000 for a married couple filing jointly, but these numbers change yearly. Check the IRS website or a tax preparer to know whether you have to file.