Tax season is here. The tax filing deadline, other key dates for 2026
Daniel de Visé, USA TODAY
Sun, February 8, 2026 at 1:33 PM EST
3 min read
Check your mail box. Your W-2 should be arriving any day now, if it hasn't already.
Employers were supposed to file wage and tax statements by the end of January. The Internal Revenue Service has been accepting tax filings since Jan. 26.
But don't worry. You still have plenty of time to file yours before this year's deadline.
Here are the key dates taxpayers should know.
When is the filing deadline for 2026?
For most of us, taxes for 2025 are due by April 15, which falls on a Wednesday. If you don't expect to file by then, you can request a six-month extension.
When do I get my refund?
If you filed electronically and chose to receive your refund by direct deposit, it will probably be issued within 21 days, the IRS says. If you mailed a paper return, the wait could be four weeks or longer.
New tax rules mean bigger refunds, but also more complexity
What happens if I miss the tax deadline?
If you fail to file your federal tax return on time, the standard penalty is a whopping 5% of any tax due for every month the return is late, up to 25% of the unpaid balance. If you file a return but fail to pay any taxes you owe, or if you get an extension, you typically face a much smaller monthly penalty: 0.5% of any unpaid amount.
Are there exceptions to the April 15 tax deadline?
Yes. The IRS extends the annual tax deadline for taxpayers who live or do business in areas afflicted by disasters and for people in states with local holidays.
A complete list of disaster-related extensions is on the IRS website.
Deadline for filing income tax returns with extensions
If you request an extension, you'll have until Thursday, Oct. 15 to file your return. It's important to keep in mind that the extension doesn't buy you more time to pay your taxes. If you think you owe tax, you'd be wise to make your best estimate of the amount and pay it by April 15 to avoid penalties later on.
1099 deadline
If you're a freelancer, an independent contractor, or earn income from sources outside of a traditional job, you should receive a 1099 tax form by Feb. 15. Employers are generally required to send the forms by the end of January.
W-2 deadline
Employers were required to send W-2 forms by Jan. 31.
Quarterly tax due dates
If you earn income that isn't subject to withholding taxes, you're typically required to make estimated tax payments to the IRS. You can do this every quarter or through one annualized estimate. The annualized estimate is due on April 15.
The quarterly payments for 2026 are due by the following dates:
◾ First payment: April 15.
◾ Second payment: June 15.
Story Continues
◾ Third payment: Sept. 15.
◾ Fourth payment: Jan. 15, 2027.
Contributing: Eve Chen, USA TODAY
Daniel de Visé covers personal finance for USA TODAY.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When are taxes due? When will refunds be paid? Key IRS dates for 2026
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