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What happens if you don’t file taxes on time?

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by Andrew Dorn - 04/15/26 2:31 PM ET

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by Andrew Dorn - 04/15/26 2:31 PM ET

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(NewsNation) — The April 15 tax deadline is here, and if you owe taxes and don’t file or pay, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) can begin charging penalties and interest.

The failure-to-file penalty is typically 5 percent of the unpaid tax for each month or partial month the return is late, up to 25 percent. Those who owe may also face a separate failure-to-pay penalty.

Taxpayers who can’t file by the deadline can request an automatic extension, which gives them an extra six months — until October 15 — to submit their return without a late filing penalty.

However, an extension does not extend the time to pay, and any taxes owed are still due by April 15.

As of April 3, the IRS had received about 99.8 million individual returns — roughly 60 percent of the 164 million it expects by the filing deadline.

Those filing electronically must submit their return or request an extension by 11:59 p.m. local time on April 15. The IRS considers a mailed return on time if it’s postmarked by the due date.

What happens if you don’t file your taxes on time?

Taxpayers who owe and don’t file a return or request an extension can face penalties and interest, which start accruing after the deadline.

The IRS typically charges a failure-to-file penalty of 5 percent of unpaid taxes for each month or partial month a return is late, capped at 25 percent. If the return is more than 60 days late, there’s a minimum penalty of $525, or 100 percent of the tax owed, whichever is less. Interest also accrues on penalties.

Those who don’t pay by the due date may also face a failure-to-pay penalty of 0.5 percent of unpaid taxes for each month or part of a month the balance remains outstanding, up to 25 percent.

If you owe taxes but can’t pay in full, the IRS offers payment plans that can reduce the failure-to-pay penalty.

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Is there a penalty for filing late if you don’t owe taxes?

There’s no penalty for filing late if a refund is due, but taxpayers still have to file to claim it — and generally have three years to do so before the money is forfeited.

Failing to file also means missing out on refundable tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.

Not filing can leave the IRS without up-to-date income information, which may affect eligibility for financial aid or certain loans.

While most U.S. workers are required to file, not everyone is — requirements vary based on income and filing status. The IRS offers a tool to help determine whether you need to file, though it generally encourages people to do so, as they may be eligible for a refund.

As of April 3, the IRS has issued nearly 70 million refunds, averaging $3,462 — up 11 percent from a year earlier.

What to do if you can’t file your taxes on time

Taxpayers who can’t file by the deadline can request an extension, which gives them an extra six months to file and avoid a failure-to-file penalty. Any taxes owed are still due by April 15.

Extension requests must be filed by April 15, and the IRS offers three ways to get one:

- Pay online and check the box: Taxpayers can pay what they owe online and select “extension” as the reason for payment — no additional forms required. They’ll receive a confirmation number for the extension.

- Request an extension online or by mail: File Form 4868 to request an automatic extension by mail. It can also be submitted electronically through an IRS e-file partner or a tax professional. Taxpayers must estimate how much tax they owe for the year on the extension form, subtract the taxes already paid, and pay the balance owed.

- Use IRS Free File: Taxpayers can request an automatic extension through the program for free, regardless of income or filing eligibility.

Some taxpayers may qualify for additional time to file and pay without requesting an extension, including those living abroad, military members serving overseas and people in certain disaster areas.

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