My cousin has a confession: he missed a quarterly tax payment his first year in business. The penalty wasn't huge, but it taught him a lesson—tax deadlines don't mess around. Now he has this schedule saved to his phone and checks it every few months.
Here are all the important dates for 2024, 2025, and 2026 tax years. I've organized them by year and by type so you can find what you need quickly.
Next Tax Deadline
--
days until next deadline
📅 Quick Reference by Year
Click on any year to see detailed deadlines. I keep this updated as soon as the IRS announces any changes.
2024 Tax Year
2025 Tax Year
2026 Tax Year
2024 Tax Year Deadlines
Filing deadline: April 15, 2025 (taxes owed for 2024)
Quarterly Estimated Tax Payments for 2024
Self-employed individuals pay estimated taxes quarterly. These deadlines are for the 2024 tax year.
Q1 2024
April 15, 2024
Income earned Jan 1 - Mar 31, 2024
Q2 2024
June 17, 2024
Income earned Apr 1 - May 31, 2024
Q3 2024
September 16, 2024
Income earned Jun 1 - Aug 31, 2024
Q4 2024
January 15, 2025
Income earned Sep 1 - Dec 31, 2024
| Deadline | What's Due | Notes |
|---|
| April 15, 2024 | Q1 2024 Estimated Tax | First quarterly payment for 2024 |
| June 17, 2024 | Q2 2024 Estimated Tax | Second quarterly payment |
| September 16, 2024 | Q3 2024 Estimated Tax | Third quarterly payment |
| October 15, 2024 | 2023 Tax Extension Deadline | Final deadline for 2023 returns if extended |
| January 15, 2025 | Q4 2024 Estimated Tax | Final 2024 quarterly payment |
| April 15, 2025 | 2024 Tax Return Due | File Form 1040 + pay any remaining tax |
| October 15, 2025 | 2024 Extension Deadline | If you filed Form 4868 by April 15 |
💡 2024 Note: The Q2 deadline is June 17 instead of June 15 because June 15 falls on a weekend. The IRS extends deadlines to the next business day when this happens.
2025 Tax Year Deadlines
Filing deadline: April 15, 2026 (taxes owed for 2025)
Quarterly Estimated Tax Payments for 2025
Q1 2025
April 15, 2025
Income earned Jan 1 - Mar 31, 2025
Q2 2025
June 16, 2025
Income earned Apr 1 - May 31, 2025
Q3 2025
September 15, 2025
Income earned Jun 1 - Aug 31, 2025
Q4 2025
January 15, 2026
Income earned Sep 1 - Dec 31, 2025
| Deadline | What's Due | Notes |
|---|
| April 15, 2025 | Q1 2025 Estimated Tax | Also 2024 tax filing deadline |
| June 16, 2025 | Q2 2025 Estimated Tax | Second quarterly payment |
| September 15, 2025 | Q3 2025 Estimated Tax | Third quarterly payment |
| October 15, 2025 | 2024 Tax Extension Deadline | Final deadline for 2024 returns |
| January 15, 2026 | Q4 2025 Estimated Tax | Final 2025 quarterly payment |
| April 15, 2026 | 2025 Tax Return Due | File Form 1040 + pay any remaining tax |
| October 15, 2026 | 2025 Extension Deadline | If you filed Form 4868 by April 15 |
2026 Tax Year Deadlines
Filing deadline: April 15, 2027 (taxes owed for 2026)
Quarterly Estimated Tax Payments for 2026
Q1 2026
April 15, 2026
Income earned Jan 1 - Mar 31, 2026
Q2 2026
June 15, 2026
Income earned Apr 1 - May 31, 2026
Q3 2026
September 15, 2026
Income earned Jun 1 - Aug 31, 2026
Q4 2026
January 15, 2027
Income earned Sep 1 - Dec 31, 2026
| Deadline | What's Due | Notes |
|---|
| April 15, 2026 | Q1 2026 Estimated Tax | Also 2025 tax filing deadline |
| June 15, 2026 | Q2 2026 Estimated Tax | Second quarterly payment |
| September 15, 2026 | Q3 2026 Estimated Tax | Third quarterly payment |
| October 15, 2026 | 2025 Tax Extension Deadline | Final deadline for 2025 returns |
| January 15, 2027 | Q4 2026 Estimated Tax | Final 2026 quarterly payment |
| April 15, 2027 | 2026 Tax Return Due | File Form 1040 + pay any remaining tax |
| October 15, 2027 | 2026 Extension Deadline | If you filed Form 4868 by April 15 |
📌 Important Dates at a Glance
| Date | Event | Tax Year |
|---|
| April 15, 2024 | Q1 2024 Estimated Tax Due | 2024 |
| June 17, 2024 | Q2 2024 Estimated Tax Due | 2024 |
| September 16, 2024 | Q3 2024 Estimated Tax Due | 2024 |
| October 15, 2024 | 2023 Tax Extension Deadline | 2023 |
| January 15, 2025 | Q4 2024 Estimated Tax Due | 2024 |
| April 15, 2025 | 2024 Tax Return Due + Q1 2025 Estimated Tax | 2024/2025 |
| June 16, 2025 | Q2 2025 Estimated Tax Due | 2025 |
| September 15, 2025 | Q3 2025 Estimated Tax Due | 2025 |
| October 15, 2025 | 2024 Tax Extension Deadline | 2024 |
| January 15, 2026 | Q4 2025 Estimated Tax Due | 2025 |
| April 15, 2026 | 2025 Tax Return Due + Q1 2026 Estimated Tax | 2025/2026 |
| June 15, 2026 | Q2 2026 Estimated Tax Due | 2026 |
| September 15, 2026 | Q3 2026 Estimated Tax Due | 2026 |
| October 15, 2026 | 2025 Tax Extension Deadline | 2025 |
| January 15, 2027 | Q4 2026 Estimated Tax Due | 2026 |
| April 15, 2027 | 2026 Tax Return Due | 2026 |
| October 15, 2027 | 2026 Tax Extension Deadline | 2026 |
⚠️ What Happens If You Miss a Deadline?
Penalties Add Up Quickly
The IRS charges two types of penalties:
- Failure to file: 5% of unpaid tax per month (max 25%)
- Failure to pay: 0.5% of unpaid tax per month (max 25%)
- Underpayment of estimated tax: Varies based on interest rates
My cousin missed one quarterly payment by two weeks and paid about $40 in penalties. Not huge, but annoying. The key is to file even if you can't pay—the failure to file penalty is much worse.
✅ How to Avoid Penalties
- Mark all four quarterly dates on your calendar at the start of the year
- Set up IRS Direct Pay or EFTPS to schedule payments in advance
- If you'll owe less than $1,000 for the year, you might not need quarterly payments
- File for an extension if you need more time—but still pay estimated taxes by April 15
- Use the previous year's safe harbor rule: pay 100% of last year's tax (110% if high income)
📝 Extension Information
Form 4868 — Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return
Key facts about extensions:
- Gives you 6 more months to file (October 15)
- Does NOT give you more time to pay—estimate what you owe and pay by April 15
- File by the regular April deadline (no extensions for requesting an extension)
- Most states accept the federal extension, but check your state rules
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between filing deadline and payment deadline?
The filing deadline (April 15) is when your tax return must be postmarked. The payment deadline is also April 15—you must pay any tax owed by this date even if you file an extension. Extensions give more time to file, not more time to pay.
Do I have to pay quarterly estimated taxes?
If you expect to owe $1,000 or more when you file your annual return, yes. The safe harbor rule: pay 100% of last year's tax (110% if your AGI was over $150,000) and you won't owe penalties even if you end up owing more.
What if a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday?
The deadline moves to the next business day. That's why you'll see June 17 instead of June 15 in some years—the IRS follows federal holiday rules.
Can I file my taxes early?
Yes! The IRS starts accepting returns in late January. If you're due a refund, filing early gets your money sooner. My cousin files in February every year.
Do state deadlines match federal deadlines?
Most states follow federal deadlines, but not all. Check with your state tax agency. California, for example, often has different due dates after disasters or emergencies.
What's the penalty for missing a quarterly estimated payment?
The underpayment penalty is calculated based on the federal short-term interest rate plus 3%, compounded daily. It's not huge, but it adds up. Use Form 2210 to calculate exactly what you owe.
👤
About David
I learned the hard way how important deadlines are—not from my own mistake, but from watching my cousin panic after missing his first quarterly payment. Now we both mark these dates on our calendars at the start of every year. I update this page whenever the IRS announces any changes.
Deadlines are set by the IRS and can change. Always verify with official sources before making payment plans.