Tax season is here. The tax filing deadline, other key dates for 2026

Key Dates and Deadlines - Employers are required to send W-2 forms by January 31 [9] - Freelancers and independent contractors should receive 1099 tax forms by February 15 [8] - The standard tax filing deadline for most taxpayers is April 15 [2] - If an extension is requested, the new deadline is October 15 [7] - Quarterly tax payments for 2026 are due on April 15 and June 15 [10] Tax Filing and Refunds - The IRS expects to receive approximately 164 million individual income tax returns in 2026, with a majority filed electronically [4][5] - Electronic filers can expect refunds within 21 days, while paper filers may wait four weeks or longer [3] - New tax rules are anticipated to result in larger refunds but also increased complexity in filing [3] Penalties for Late Filing - The penalty for failing to file a federal tax return on time is 5% of any tax due for each month the return is late, up to a maximum of 25% [3] - If a return is filed but taxes owed are not paid, the penalty is typically 0.5% of the unpaid amount [3] Exceptions to Deadlines - The IRS provides extensions for taxpayers in disaster-affected areas and those in states with local holidays [6]