Tax Day is almost here, but you’re in good company if you haven’t filed yet. As of late March, the IRS had received about $88 million of the $164 million in taxes it expects to receive.
Whether you’re struggling to get your W-2, having trouble making an appointment with your accountant or procrastinating because you feel like it, you probably have questions about your taxes. Lucky for you, Money has been covering the 2026 tax season in detail for months.
Here are answers to some popular last-minute tax questions.
When are taxes due?
For calendar year filers, federal income taxes are due to the IRS by April 15. The tax return you file in the spring of 2026 includes income earned in 2025.
Remember that this deadline is federal; Your state’s taxes may be due on a different date.
Can I mail my tax returns?
Yes. According to the US Postal Service, the IRS considers a tax return to be filed “on time” if the envelope is addressed to the correct address, has the correct postage and is postmarked by April 15 – regardless of when it was actually delivered.
Note that the USPS changed its long-standing marking policy in December. Rather than a postage stamp indicating when you’ve dropped mail in a mailbox or delivered it to a carrier, postage stamps can now indicate when your envelope has actually been processed by your local post office. If you’re worried about getting IRS penalties for filing a tax return late, you can visit a post office and ask for a Postage Verification Imprint or free postage stamp at the counter. You may also want to send your documents by Certified Mail or Registered Mail, which comes with proof of mailing.
Alternatively, you can use a private delivery service such as UPS, FedEx or DHL.
However, the IRS strongly encourages taxpayers to file and pay their taxes online.
Can I file my taxes for free?
Yes – no matter how your income affects it.
Most taxpayers qualify for IRS Free File, a public-private partnership between the agency and several brand-name tax preparation companies. If your adjusted gross income is $89,000 or less, you qualify for free guided tax preparation from providers like TaxSlayer, 1040.com and TaxAct.
If you’re above that income limit, you can use Free File Forms, which require valid tax information but are available for free.
You can also file your 2025 tax return for free with a company like Cash App Taxes, H&R Block or TurboTax, all of which have their own requirements.
How long does a tax refund take?
So far this tax season, the IRS has issued more than 80% of returns in less than 21 days. Most of those tax refunds are deposited directly into taxpayers’ bank accounts.
Can I track my tax return?
The IRS should be able to provide an update on the status of your return within 24 hours after you file your return electronically or four weeks after you file a paper return.
You can track your tax refund by using the IRS’s Where’s My Refund tool, which requires you to enter the exact amount of the refund, your filing status and your Social Security number or Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). You can also log into your IRS account online, use the IRS mobile app or call the automated phone number at 800-829-1954.
How do I apply for an extension on my taxes?
If you owe your taxes, it’s important that you pay, or make a payment plan, the IRS by April 15. (Penalties still apply — more on this below.) But you can get more time to file by requesting an automatic extension.
The extension will give you until October 15 to file your 2025 tax return. To request an extension, you can:
- Pay what you estimate you owe online and show you’re filing for an extension
- Use IRS Free File – no matter how much you earn – to submit Form 4868
- Email, mail or send a tax pro with Form 4868
How do I deduct my tips and overtime pay from my taxes?
This filing season is the first since President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, or OBBBA, which includes a number of new tax breaks aimed at lowering costs for everyday Americans. To claim these deductions, you’ll need to fill out a Schedule 1-A and attach it to your 1040.
The “no tax on tips” deduction allows certain tipped workers to deduct up to $25,000 of tip income from their returns. Ends for individual filers earning more than $150,000 ($300,000 for joint filers). Suitable roles include hairdressers, baristas, waiters, dancers, house cleaners and more.
The “overtime tax exemption” deduction is intended for non-exempt hourly employees covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act who work more than 40 hours per week. It costs up to $12,500 and starts at $150,000 for single files ($300,000 for joint files).
Is the SALT cap still $10,000?
Get ready for the acronym overload. The OBBBA increased the amount of state and local tax, or SALT, that filers can deduct from their taxable income. For the 2025 tax year, the SALT limit jumps to $40,000 for single filers ($20,000 if married filing separately). It is due to increase by 1% each year until 2029, at which time it will return to $10,000.
The 2025 SALT deduction begins to expire when your income reaches $500,000 for single filers (or $250,000 for married couples), but cannot fall below $10,000.
What is the extra tax break for over 65s in 2026?
Marketed as “no tax on Social Security,” the enhanced deduction for seniors provides an additional deduction of $6,000 to filers age 65 on or before the last day of the tax year. Both materialists and non-materialists can claim the maximum bonus, although it comes from people earning more than $75,000 ($150,000 for joint filers).
How do I claim my $1,000 Trump account for my child?
Trump Accounts are a new type of tax-deferred savings and investment account for Americans under 18.
The federal government has committed to making a one-time contribution of $1,000 to the Trump account for each eligible US citizen born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028. But the Trump Accounts are not accepting donations right now — they will start on July 4.
Parents can enroll their children by completing IRS Form 4547 when they file their 2025 taxes. You don’t have to do this when you file taxes, however. You can also visit the official Trump Accounts website to register.
What happens if I don’t file taxes?
If you owe money and don’t file a tax return, you will lose your tax return. That would be a nice chunk of change, as the average return for 2026 so far is $3,512. The IRS will hold your return for three years, so make sure you file by April 15, 2029.
If you are in debt, things are different. You could face penalties from the IRS if you are required to file a 2025 tax return and decide not to (without good reason). The penalty for failure to file is 5% of what you owe (minus overdue payments and credits) for each month or part of a month you don’t file, up to 25%. After 60 days, the minimum penalty is $525 or 100% of your underpayment — whichever is less.
If you owe and file but don’t pay, you’ll likely face a late payment penalty of 0.5% of your unpaid monthly or semimonthly taxes, up to 25%. If you’re hit with both penalties, the IRS will reduce the first (failure to file) by the amount of the second (non-payment penalty) in a given month. failure to pay the fine in a particular month.
The agency also charges interest.
How do I get help from the IRS?
Individual filers can get tax assistance from the IRS on its website or by calling 800-829-1040 between 7am and 7pm local time.
More from Mali:
Why Millions of Taxpayers Could Get Big Refunds in 2026
Here are the Income Tax Brackets for this year
Who Does Not Have to File Taxes? Details of Retirees, Students and Gig Workers
