The 2026 tax season is nearing its end.
As of late March, the IRS said it had processed more than 78 million individual federal income tax returns and issued 57 million refunds via direct deposit. The agency said that the average refund is up by more than 10 percent, with total refunds topping $202 billion.
Here’s how much time taxpayers have left to file, how to check a refund status and what happens if you miss the deadline.
When is the last day to file taxes in 2026?
Taxpayers have until Wednesday, April 15, 2026, to file their 2025 tax returns and pay any tax owed, according to the IRS.
Taxpayers may also file for an extension, which allows an additional six months to submit a return, but any taxes owed are still due April 15. The 2026 federal tax extension filing deadline to file is October 15, 2026.
When is the deadline to mail tax returns?
For the 2025 tax year (filed in 2026), the last day to mail your federal tax return is April 15.
However, a change at the U.S. Postal Service means some mail may no longer arrive at processing facilities the same day it’s mailed, USA TODAY reports. Because mail is automatically postmarked at those facilities, the postmark date may not match the day a letter carrier collected it or a customer dropped it off at a retail location.
Experts recommend mailing returns at least three to five business days before April 15. Taxpayers can also stand in line at a local post office to get a hand‑stamped postmark, which USPS applies free of charge.
What happens if I miss the April 15 tax filing deadline?
Taxpayers who miss the April 15 filing deadline should submit their tax return as soon as possible, the IRS notes. Filers may face penalties, which the IRS charges monthly until the full amount owed is paid.
The standard penalty for filing late is five percent of any tax due for each month the return is late, up to 25% of the unpaid balance, according to USA TODAY. If you file a return but fail to pay any taxes you owe, or if you get an extension, you may face a smaller monthly penalty of 0.5% of any unpaid amount.
Already filed? How to check refund amount, status
Taxpayers who paid more than they owed throughout the year may receive a refund.
Most refunds are issued within 21 days after an electronic return is accepted, the IRS says. The timing of your refund may change for amended returns, errors, or if you claim the Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit.
If you e-file your return, you can usually see your refund status within 24 hours using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool.
You can access your refund information for the current year and past two years. You’ll need your Social Security or individual taxpayer ID number (ITIN), your filing status and the exact refund amount on your return.
Refund status is shown in three stages: Return received, refund approved and refund sent. It can take six weeks or more for returns sent by mail, and longer if your return needs corrections or extra review.
When will Ohio tax refunds come?
State refunds follow their own timelines, The Columbus Dispatch reports. In Ohio, you can check your refund status through the Department of Taxation’s online portal.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Is it too late to mail your tax return? See IRS deadlines for 2026
Reporting by Alex Perry, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
