You must file your federal income tax return by April 15, 2025, which is the standard deadline for most taxpayers

. If you cannot file by this date, you can request an automatic six-month extension by submitting IRS Form 4868, which extends your filing deadline to October 15, 2025

. However, this extension only applies to filing your return, not to paying any taxes owed. You must pay your estimated taxes by April 15 to avoid penalties and interest

. In certain cases, such as natural disasters or specific state-designated extensions, some taxpayers may have later deadlines, for example, until May 1, October 15, or November 3, 2025, depending on the location and circumstances

. If you file late without an extension, penalties apply, typically 5% of the taxes owed for each month late, up to a maximum of 25%

. Summary:

• Regular filing deadline: April 15, 2025
• Extension deadline: October 15, 2025 (if Form 4868 filed)
• Taxes owed must be paid by April 15 to avoid penalties
• Special disaster-related extensions may apply in some areas
• Penalties for late filing without extension can be substantial