We are just hours away from the 2026 tax season deadline.
As of late March, the IRS said it had already 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.
If you haven’t filed yet and plan to mail your return, here’s what you should do if you’re filing at the last minute.
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.
What happens if I miss the April 15 tax filing deadline? How to file at the last minute
If you’ve waited it out and now you’re cramming, there’s still time to file your taxes. However, if you don’t make it in time for the April 15 filing deadline, you should submit your 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.
How can you file an extension on your income taxes?
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.
What are the penalties for filing your taxes late, not paying on time?
The standard penalty for filing late is 5% of any tax due for each month the return is late, up to 25% of the unpaid balance, according to USA TODAY. If your return is more than 60 days late, there’s also a minimum penalty for late filing. The minimum penalty is the lesser of $525 this year or 100% of the tax owed.
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 your taxes in 2026? 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: When is tax day 2026? What to do if you’re filing at the last minute
Reporting by Alex Perry and Mariyam Muhammad, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
