Here are the 2026 Tax Deadlines You Need to Know

Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on Penny Hoarder.

Tax season is upon us. The Internal Revenue Service’s official start date for the 2025 tax season is Jan. 26.

Whether you’re waiting for a refund or dreading the bill, you’ll want to mark some important dates on your calendar.

First, the deadline for employers to send W-2 tax forms is February. 2 (Jan. 31 is the usual deadline but falls on a Saturday in 2026, so the deadline moves to the next weekday). You know, those little pieces of paper that show your income and taxes – all the money taken out of your paycheck.

But you still have a few months to figure out how to file your taxes.

The deadline for most taxpayers is April 15, 2026, to submit 2025 tax returns or an extension to file and pay taxes owed.

When Are Taxes Due in 2026?

April 15.

This is when you need to file your 2025 tax returns, either by e-file or by postmarking your individual tax returns by midnight that day.

You may have an extension if you are in a state-declared disaster area.

The IRS expects more than 140 million tax returns to be filed by the deadline, according to a news release from the agency.

Which Filing Form Should I Use?

You will need to use Form 1040 and pay any taxes you may owe.

Previously, taxpayers could choose from two other forms – 1040EZ and 1040-A, but those forms were phased out in 2019 following the IRS’s 1040 change.

So, that makes things easier. You no longer need to worry about choosing the right tax form. Just file Form 1040 and any applicable schedules.

When using tax preparation software, the IRS offers tips for finding a trustworthy tax professional to avoid potential scams and schemes.

If you use software like TurboTax, it will walk you through the entire tax filing process. The software will help you fill in all the fields and suggest whether you should do things or take a standard deduction. (Most Americans go for standard deduction).

3 More Tax Deadlines Coming Up April 15

Besides filing your individual return, you need to do these things by April 15th.

1. Enter the Extension

Need more time to file your taxes? You need to apply for an extension by April 15.

You can find more information about how to request an extension on the IRS website.

Reasons for extensions include emergencies, extra vacations, overloaded work schedules and lack of availability.

The extension is valid for six months. If you choose this, you will need to mark Oct. 15, 2026, on your calendar. That’s your new deadline.

Although the extension gives you more time to file your tax return, your tax payment is still due on April 15, 2026.

2. File Your Estimated Taxes

For the self-employed: You need to pay estimated taxes every quarter.

You must complete these four times a year: The first payment for the 2026 tax year is due by April 15, followed by other payments by June 15, Sept. 15 and Jan. 15, 2027.

3. Make Final IRA Contributions for 2025

Have you started that retirement fund yet? April 15 is your last day to make contributions to your retirement accounts, including traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs and health savings accounts.