Massachusetts Current Tax Filing Season Overview

Depending on your tax situation and what kind of filer you are, there are different tax dates to be aware of. Below are the important tax dates and deadlines for individual filers, including those who are retired, an employee, or self-employed. If you already know that you’ll need an extension, plan on filing Form 4868 sooner rather than later. That way, if anything goes wrong with your application, you’ll have plenty of time to fix any errors and resubmit it ahead of the April 15 deadline. This also ensures you have time to estimate your tax liability so that you can pay what you owe, as well as time to get your documents together for your extended deadline in October.

IRS Free File; opens January 12; free service on IRS.gov has helped millions

With multiple free e-file options, like New York State Direct File and Free File, filing your personal income tax returns is easier than ever. Using your computer, tablet, or mobile device, you can prepare and e-file your return whenever and wherever you want. If you work for yourself, you need to file taxes annually and make estimated tax payments quarterly. State income tax deadlines typically mirror the federal tax deadline, but some exceptions exist. If you know you won’t be able to finish your return on time, you can how to file taxes for the first time at 18 request a six-month tax extension using Form 4868. This moves your filing deadline six months out to October.

• If you also file taxes for your small business as a partnership or S corporation, the last day to file taxes is March 15 or April 15 for C-corporations unless this day falls on a weekend or official holiday.
• With Web File, you can schedule payments in advance, save your bank account information for future use, and update your business information.
• It covers excise tax obligations and payroll tax deposit deadlines that may apply to your company.
• Create a system to remind you of upcoming dates—and allow yourself enough time to get the proper documents.

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„IRS employees are working hard to make sure that new funding is used to help taxpayers by making the process of preparing and filing taxes easier.” Some people say that going on extension increases audit risk, while some people say the opposite. There appears to be no hard evidence to prove either theory.

What if I owe more than I can pay?

If you are not in a group that gets an automatic extension, but you can’t file by mid-April, you may apply for an automatic six-month filing extension by April 15. If you don’t and it turns out you still owe money, you will be hit with a late-filing penalty if your return is late. And if you do owe money, know that an extension to file is not an extension to pay. If you don’t pay by then, you also will be subject to late-payment penalties.

April 15: Tax Day

There are times you may want or need to amend your return. For one thing, amended returns are much more likely to be scrutinized. For most people, April 15 is the last to day file a 2024 tax return, unless you apply for an automatic six-month tax extension with the IRS, which is also due on April 15.

Missing filing on time can cost thousands of dollars in penalties, so you need to know your tax dates and deadlines. Bear in mind that we are filing taxes for income earned in 2024, even though we file those forms in 2025. To keep confusion to a minimum, tax experts refer to 2024 as the tax year and 2025 as the recording transactions filing year. Most, but not all, of the deadlines in 2025 refer to tax year 2024.

• Now in its 23rd year, Free File offers free tax preparation software from eight companies in the public-private partnership between the IRS and Free File Inc.
• Get free guides, articles, tools and calculators to help you navigate the financial side of your business with ease.
• If you cannot meet the April 15 deadline, you can get an automatic six-month extension to file your tax return if you file Form 4868 no later than the date your return is due.
• If you file an extension by Tax Day, your new filing deadline is Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025.
• These penalties can quickly accumulate,  significantly increasing your tax bill.
• Most taxpayers can file an extension using Form 4868, the Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File.
• Don’t put off filing just because you can’t afford to pay the amount due on the day you need to file your tax return.

• If your business runs on a non-calendar tax year, your federal tax return is generally due by the 15th day of the third month following the end of the company’s fiscal year.
• Just keep in mind, the tax extension gives you more time to file your return, not more time to pay the tax you owe.
• You can minimize failure-to-file penalties by filing as soon as possible, paying as much as you can when you file, and setting up an installment plan for the balance.
• Although the IRS will not officially begin accepting and processing tax returns until Jan. 29, people do not need to wait until then to work on their taxes if they’re using software companies or tax professionals.
• The IRS also reminds taxpayers that choosing someone affiliated with a recognized national tax association is always a good option.
• We offer a number of online services to fit your busy lifestyle.

For most taxpayers, the deadline to file their personal federal tax return, pay any tax owed or request an extension to file is Monday, April 15, 2024. Convenient electronic filing options, including IRS Free File, are still available. MilTax is a free online service https://www.bookstime.com/articles/incremental-cost that members of the military and qualifying veterans can use to file their federal income tax returns and up to three state income tax returns.

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Will update overnight so there is no need to check the tool more than once a day. Starting today, almost everyone can file electronically for free by using IRS Free File, available only on IRS.gov. Now in its 23rd year, Free File offers free tax preparation software from eight companies in the public-private partnership between the IRS and Free File Inc. As part of this partnership, tax preparation and filing software partners offer their online products to eligible taxpayers for free.

Important Tax Deadlines and Dates

Veterans can use the Veterans Benefits Banking Program to find participating financial institutions. The IRS also continues to urge taxpayers to visit a trusted tax professional for help with their taxes or visit IRS.gov first. As part of IRS improvement efforts since 2022, the agency continues to add and expand a variety of online tools and services to help people with their taxes.