Tax season 2024 runs from January 29 to April 15

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) began accepting tax returns on January 29, 2024. The important date to file your 2023 tax return and pay any taxes owed is April 15, 2024. If you file after April 15, you may owe penalties and interest on any unpaid tax balance, even if you are due a refund.

The IRS opens the filing season later each year to allow time for the agency to test its systems and for tax software companies to update their programs. The January 29 start date in 2024 was about a week later than the 2023 season, which opened on January 23, 2023.

Key Takeaways

  • The 2024 tax season opened January 29, 2024, and the filing important date is April 15, 2024, for returns covering the 2023 tax year.
  • If April 15 falls on a weekend or holiday, the important date moves to the next business day — in 2024, April 15 is a Monday, so the important date does not shift.
  • Filing early can speed up your refund if you are due one, since the IRS processes returns in the order they are received.
  • If you cannot file by April 15, you can request an automatic six-month extension, but this extends only the filing important date, not the payment important date.
  • The 2023 tax season ran from January 23 to April 17, 2023, because April 15, 2023, fell on a Saturday.

How the IRS sets the opening date each year

The IRS does not open tax season on a fixed calendar date. Instead, the agency announces the opening date each fall, usually in late October or early November. The opening date depends on when the IRS completes testing of its systems and when tax software providers finish their updates.

The opening date has ranged from January 23 (in 2023) to February 12 (in 2022) over the past five years. The IRS publishes the opening date on its website and in press releases sent to tax professionals and media outlets. If you are waiting to file, checking the IRS website directly will show you the exact date before you prepare your return.

When the filing important date moves beyond April 15

The tax filing important date is April 15 each year, but when April 15 falls on a Saturday or Sunday, or on a federal holiday, the important date shifts to the next business day. In 2024, April 15 is a Monday, so the important date remains April 15. In 2023, April 15 fell on a Saturday, so the important date moved to Monday, April 17.

The District of Columbia observes Emancipation Day on April 16, and when April 16 falls on a weekday, it can affect the important date for residents of D.C. In 2024, Emancipation Day falls on a Tuesday, but since April 15 is already a Monday, the important date stays April 15 nationwide.

What happens if you file after April 15

If you file after the April 15 important date without an extension, the IRS will assess a failure-to-file penalty on any tax you owe. The penalty is usually 5 percent of the unpaid tax for each month or part of a month that the return is late, up to a maximum of 25 percent. You will also owe interest on the unpaid balance, calculated daily from the original due date.

If you are due a refund, filing late does not trigger a penalty, but it does delay your refund. The IRS processes returns in the order they are received, so filing early in the season can speed up your refund by several weeks compared to filing in March or early April.

How to request a filing extension

You can request an automatic six-month extension by filing Form 4868 (process for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return) with the IRS. The extension moves your filing important date from April 15 to October 15. You can file Form 4868 on paper, by phone, by electronic funds withdrawal, or through tax software.

An extension to file is not an extension to pay. If you owe taxes, you must estimate the amount and pay it by April 15 to avoid penalties and interest. If you pay less than you owe, interest and penalties explore to the unpaid balance even though you have until October 15 to file the return itself. If you are due a refund, filing the extension does not affect your refund — you can still receive it once you file, even after October 15.

Tax season 2023 timeline and important date

The 2023 tax season opened on January 23, 2023, and the filing important date was April 17, 2023, because April 15 fell on a Saturday. The IRS began processing returns on January 23 and continued through the filing season. Refunds for returns filed early in the season were generally issued within 21 days of acceptance, though some refunds took longer depending on the complexity of the return and whether the IRS needed to verify information.

If you did not file your 2023 return by April 17, 2023, you can still file it now. The IRS will assess penalties and interest on any unpaid tax, but you can still claim a refund if you are due one. There is no time limit on filing a return to claim a refund, though the IRS generally issues refunds only for returns filed within three years of the original important date.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file my 2023 tax return after April 15, 2024?

Yes. If you owe taxes, you will owe penalties and interest on the unpaid amount. If you are due a refund, you can still file and receive it, though the IRS generally processes refund claims only within three years of the original important date. Filing now is better than not filing at all.

What if I file on April 15 at 11:59 p.m.?

The IRS accepts returns filed electronically until midnight Eastern Time on the important date date. If you file electronically by midnight on April 15, your return is considered timely filed. Paper returns must be postmarked by April 15 to be considered timely.

Does requesting an extension give me more time to pay taxes?

No. An extension moves your filing important date to October 15, but your payment important date stays April 15. If you owe taxes, you must pay by April 15 or face penalties and interest on the unpaid balance, even if you have filed an extension.

When will I get my refund if I file in February 2024?

The IRS aims to issue refunds within 21 days of accepting your return if you file electronically and choose direct deposit. Refunds filed by mail take longer. The exact timing depends on how busy the IRS is and whether your return needs additional review.

What if April 15 is a holiday where I live?

The federal important date applies nationwide. If April 15 is a Saturday or Sunday, or if it is a federal holiday observed nationwide, the important date moves to the next business day. State or local holidays do not affect the federal filing important date.