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Tax day 2021 deadline: The last day you can file and how to get an extension

The IRS has officially postponed the deadline for 2021.

Clifford Colby Managing Editor
Clifford is a managing editor at CNET, where he leads How-To coverage. He spent a handful of years at Peachpit Press, editing books on everything from the first iPhone to Python. He also worked at a handful of now-dead computer magazines, including MacWEEK and MacUser. Unrelated, he roots for the Oakland A's.
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Justin Jaffe is the Managing Editor for CNET Money. He has more than 20 years of experience publishing books, articles and research on finance and technology for Wired, IDC and others. He is the coauthor of Uninvested (Random House, 2015), which reveals how financial services companies take advantage of customers -- and how to protect yourself. He graduated from Skidmore College with a B.A. in English Literature, spent 10 years in San Francisco and now lives in Portland, Maine.
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Shelby Brown (she/her/hers) is an editor for CNET's services team. She covers tips and tricks for apps, operating systems and devices, as well as mobile gaming and Apple Arcade news. Shelby also oversees Tech Tips coverage. Before joining CNET, she covered app news for Download.com and served as a freelancer for Louisville.com.
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Clifford Colby
Justin Jaffe
Shelby Brown
3 min read
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With millions of Americans still struggling to navigate COVID-19 and its impact on the economy, the IRS has elected to once again postpone the date that your federal income tax return is due. The new deadline of May 17, which will give you an extra month or so to get your paperwork in order this year, isn't quite as generous as last year's extension, which ran to July 15 -- but, if you're playing catch-up, it's better than nothing. 

Still, the clock is ticking for all of us -- including the millions of taxpayers that will be facing an array of new, and potentially complicated, tax issues. They include unemployment insurance claims, stimulus check income and questions about eligibility for the home office deduction, just to name a few. 

Watch this: Your tax questions answered in 3 minutes

As such, the best thing you can do is to start now. (This advice applies every year.) Filing early means a quicker turnaround on your refund and getting any missing stimulus money faster. 

See also

Though the deadline to file your 2020 taxes is May 17, you can ask for even more time by filing for an extension with the IRS. We've got all of the details about how to do that below.

Read more: Best tax software

Can I file my income taxes sooner than May 17?

Yes. And the sooner you file, the faster you will get your refund -- if one is owed. Most refunds are issued within three weeks -- though this year, with the IRS still working through a backlog of stimulus payments, it might take longer. The agency began accepting returns on Feb. 12, 2021. 

Read more: When will you get your tax refund? Possible dates and how to track it

What happens if I miss the deadline?

There's an important distinction between filing late and paying late. If you need more time to prepare your tax return, you can request an extension from the IRS using Form 4868. If approved, you'll get an extra five months, making Oct. 15 the deadline for your tax paperwork this year. 

But here's a big, hairy note of caution: Even if you're approved for the extension, you still have to pay your estimated taxes by May 17 in order to avoid penalties. (Here's what you need to know about estimating your tax bill.) According to the IRS, the late payment penalty is "0.5% of the tax owed after the due date, for each month or part of a month the tax remains unpaid, up to 25%." That's just to start; if you fail to pay for an extended amount of time, the fines increase. And there is a "failure-to-file" penalty as well. 

But the IRS may waive the penalty if you can show "reasonable cause for the failure to pay on time."

Can I request an extension for my business?

Yes. According to the IRS, businesses can file Form 7004 to request a deferral until May 17. But pretty much the same rules apply as with an individual; the business still needs to pay its estimated taxes by May 17 but can wait until Oct. 15 to file the return. 

Can I file for an extension for my state tax return?

Maybe. The rules vary from state to state, so you'll need to check with your state tax agency to learn about your specific options for an extension. 

If you need help filing your state or federal taxes, there are plenty of good tax-preparation services to choose from -- or you can always file your taxes for free. 

See also