Tax Day 2024: What to know about extensions, free file, deadlines and refunds

Tax season has come and gone.

Monday was the last day for most taxpayers to file a 2023 return. 

Monday was also the last day to request an extension, an action that buys you six extra months to file and greatly reduces any potential penalties or interest charges you might face for filing late.

The IRS had received 101.8 million returns by April 5 and processed just over 100 million. The average refund to date is $3,011, compared with $2,878 last year at the same time.

Here's a recap of USA TODAY's live coverage of Tax Day 2024:

Tax deadline 2024 countdown

When is the deadline if I file an extension?

If you file an extension (which you'll need to do by April 15), you'll have until Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 to file taxes.

In years where Oct. 15 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the deadline will take place the next business day, the IRS states.

Emily DeLetter

How should we file in 2025 if we get married this year?

If you're married, you can choose whether you want to file a joint return or file two individual returns. 

Filing a joint tax return means your income and your spouse's income get combined together. The joint income is subject to different tax brackets than single filers.

Importantly, filing jointly means you're both on the hook for the money you and your spouse owe to the IRS prior to your marriage. 

"When you file jointly, that is typically how you get the largest legitimate refund," says Scott Curley, co-CEO of FinishLine Tax Solutions, a tax consulting firm based in Houston.

That's because there are more tax deductions and credits married couples filing jointly are eligible for.

There are instances where filing separately makes more sense.

The tax code allows you to deduct out-of-pocket medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, meaning if one half of the relationship has experienced significant health issues it may make sense to prepare separate returns.

Another situation where it may not make sense to file a joint return is if one spouse has a significantly lower income, Speiss says. That's because the lower-income spouse may be eligible for more itemized deductions by filing individually.

Elisabeth Buchwald

How much might I pay in taxes during my life?

The average American pays $524,625 in taxes in their lifetime, according to personal finance site Self Financial.

New Jersey residents pay $987,117 in lifetime taxes, the analysis found, the highest tab in the nation. Washington, D.C., comes second, with a lifetime tax burden of $884,820. Connecticut and Massachusetts are third and fourth, at $855,307 and $816,700.

The lowest-tax state is West Virginia, with a lifetime cost of $358,407.

The lifetime tax figure, $524,625, works out to about one-third of the average American's lifetime earnings, which add up to roughly $1.5 million.

Daniel de Visé

USA TODAY Fact-Check: Three false tax claims to avoid

The complexity of the filing process and various government financial initiatives has made the topic a popular source of misinformation.

The USA TODAY Fact-Check Team has debunked an array of such claims, here are three of them.

The claim: There are no laws requiring American citizens to pay income taxes

Our rating: False

The 16th Amendment gives Congress the power to collect federal income taxes. The power to enforce these tax laws has been delegated to the IRS, which imposes financial penalties on those who don't properly file their taxes. Read more

The claim: Image shows an IRS memo stating that all tax collections since 1913 were illegal

Our rating: False

There is no evidence such a memo existed. The IRS has no record of it, and the text of the memo contains factual errors about the lawsuit it references. Read more

The claim: Residents in certain states will receive a fourth stimulus check on Nov. 30

Our rating: False

The IRS said the Treasury Department did not issue a fourth round of stimulus checks in late 2023. Some states named in the post are sending rebates to eligible taxpayers, but those are not stimulus checks and don't match the figures listed in the post. Read more

Tax season is confusing enough.Don’t fall for these false claims

BrieAnna J. Frank

What happens if my taxes are late?

If you forgot or missed the deadline for another reason, the standard penalty is 5% of any tax due for every month the return is late, up to 25% of the unpaid balance.

If you file a return but fail to pay any taxes you owe, or if you get an extension and don't pay (an extension to file is not an extension to pay, the IRS reminds you), you typically face a much smaller monthly penalty of 0.5% of any unpaid amount.

Emily DeLetter

President Biden releases taxes

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden paid $146,629 in federal income taxes in 2023 after reporting income of $619,976, according to their joint tax return released Monday to mark the federal tax-filing deadline.

The first couple paid an effective federal tax rate of 23.7%.

It marks the 26th year that Biden has released federal tax returns during his public life.

Former President Donald Trump, the Republican presumptive nominee, is again declining to release his latest federal tax returns after he broke from the bipartisan tradition of presidents disclosing the documents.

Joey Garrison

Is the post office open late on Tax Day?

In years past, tax filers who were filing at the last minute could often go to area post offices up until midnight on tax day and get a hand-stamped postmark, which showed they had beaten the deadline.

But that’s generally not the case these days.

One of the major reasons that post offices no longer stay open late on April 15 is that the majority of taxpayers file their returns electronically.

According to the IRS, in 2022 nearly 213.4 million returns and other forms were filed electronically, representing close to 81.2% of all filings. For individual tax returns, 93.8% were filed electronically.

Of course, you can always double-check with your local post office to see if by chance they are staying open late. Some post offices may extend their hours.

If you file by mail, your return must be postmarked by April 15, so get it in before the last collection time.

Celeste E. Whittaker - Cherry Hill Courier-Post a part of the USA TODAY NETWORK

2024 standard deduction

Tax Day restaurant deals

If you are hungry after filing your return, there are plenty of restaurants giving customers a tax break.

• California Pizza Kitchen is offering CPK Rewards customers $10 off when they spend $40 on Monday in support of those who "may literally need a Tax Break," the company said.
• Dave & Buster's is offering 50% off all food from April 15 through April 28 to customers who join the D&B Rewards program to celebrate the company's new menu launch.
• Hooters is offering 10 free wings with the purchase of 10 wings on Monday. The restaurant is also offering $4 Dos Equis draft beers and $4 "Legendary" Margaritas. HootClub Rewards loyalty members are eligible to receive a free dessert up to $6.99 in value on Monday.
• Grimaldi's Pizzaria is $10.40 off any purchase of $30 at participating locations on Monday. The offer is valid for dine-in, to-go and online orders with code TAXDAY24.
• Round Table Pizza is offering customers 15% off any order $40 or more at participating locations on Monday.
• Fazoli's is offering six free breadsticks with a $5 purchase at participating locations with code Tax24.
• Customers can get a free sandwich as part of Arby's Free Sandwich Month on Tax Day. To redeem the free sandwich deal, orders must be placed online or on the Arby's App. 

Gabe Hauari

2024 IRS tax brackets visualized

Where are the highest property taxes?

The typical American pays 1.02% of their home’s value in property taxes a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau

New Jersey had the largest median property tax bill for singe-family homes in 2023, according to CoreLogic. Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire and Massachusetts rounded out the top five states with the most expensive median property tax bill. Homeowners in West Virginia paid the smallest amount in property taxes on average, about $694 per year.

A separate analysis from CoreLogic found that the average homeowner in Westchester County, New York paid the most in property taxes last year, with a median value of $15,373.

In 2023, 13 of the 15 top counties with the most expensive property tax bills were in the greater New York City area, including surrounding cities and suburbs.

Sara Chernikoff

How are lottery winners taxed?

If you were one of the lucky people to win either a Powerball or Mega Millions prizes in 2023, you are certainly not out of the taxman’s reach.

Federal lottery taxes are determined by the income bracket the winnings fall into.

Currently the two highest income brackets are taxed at 37% for incomes over $578,125 and 35% for incomes over $231,250.

New York levies the highest state tax on wins at 10.9%, followed by Maryland (8.9%) and the District of Columbia (8.5%), according to Lottery USA.

There are ten states and territories that do not tax lottery winners. They are:

• California
• Delaware
• Florida
• New Hampshire
• Puerto Rico
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Washington
• Wyoming

James Powel

Don't forget state taxes

If your state has income tax, you may not be done yet. State tax deadlines can vary but most follow federal deadlines, so your state tax return is likely also due April 15. 

Make sure to file your federal return first and it is accepted because you’ll likely need income information off that for your state return.

H&R Block resolves issues with electronic filing on tax deadline day

Tax software giant H&R Block said earlier issues with its electronic filing on Monday were resolved this afternoon.

"The issue affecting a small number of our downloadable desktop software users has been resolved," it said in a statement to USA Today. "We have notified our clients via an in-product message and as they reach out to customer service that they can now efile their return."

The statement also noted that most people who file taxes themselves with H&R Block use hrblock.com (its DIY Online edition), and that has been operational all day.

According to Downdetector.com, H&R Block's issues began on Sunday evening and spilled over into today.

Medora Lee

How many people will file for an extension?

The IRS estimates 19 million taxpayers will file for an automatic extension. The extension gives taxpayers until October 15 to file their taxes. 

The IRS reminds people an extension to file is not an extension to pay. If you think you’ll owe money, then you must submit a payment to ensure you don’t incur an underpayment penalty or late fee.

Taxpayers in Maine and Massachusetts have until April 17 to file and pay taxes due this year. This is because these states observe the Patriots’ Day holiday on April 15 this year, and April 16 is the Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia, the IRS says. 

There are also automatic extensions for some taxpayers impacted by natural disasters.

Medora Lee

IRS tax brackets for 2024

After preparing your return for 2023, you may be wondering whether to change your withholding for 2024. One factor to consider is the new tax brackets.

For the top individual tax bracket, the 2024 income threshold was raised from $578,126 to $609,351. This means that more than $30,000 in individual income will be taxed at 35%, instead of 37%.

Here are the other 2024 tax brackets for individual filers:

• 35% for incomes over $243,725. 
• 32% for incomes over $191,950.
• 24% for incomes over $100,525.
• 22% for incomes over $47,150.
• 12% for incomes over $11,600. 
• 10% for income below $11,600.

And here are the 2024 tax brackets for married couples filing joint returns:

• 37% for income greater than $731,200. 
• 35% for incomes over $487,450.
• 32% for incomes over $383,900. 
• 24% for incomes over $201,050. 
• 22% for incomes over $94,300. 
• 12% for incomes over $23,200. 
• 10% for income below $23,200.

Elisabeth Buchwald

How will the Child Tax Credit change in 2024?

A much-heralded bill in Congress aims to boost the child tax credit, delivering more aid to families. Long story short: It may not happen.

The bipartisan proposal would phase in an increase to the amount of the child tax credit that is refundable, meaning that you can get the money even if you owe no tax. 

The maximum credit is $2,000 per child, and the refundable portion is currently $1,600. The legislation would increase the refundable portion to $1,800 for 2023, $1,900 for 2024 and $2,000 in 2025.But the bill has yet to pass the Senate, if indeed it ever will. “It’s on life support,” Sen. Josh Hawley, the Missouri Republican, told NBC News.

Daniel de Visé

What is the tax underpayment penalty?

The IRS expects you to pay taxes on your income at regular intervals, either through withholding from your paycheck or estimated payments. 

If you don’t, you may be charged an underpayment penalty. 

The penalty could be triggered if you don’t pay enough tax or don’t pay it on time, either through withholding or estimated tax payments. In other words, don’t wait until December to send in a $10,000 check for estimated taxes.

To avoid the penalty, try to pay your estimated taxes on time. You may be able to skirt the penalty if you paid at least 90% of the tax you owe for the current year, or 100% of the tax you owed last year, whichever is less, or if you owe less than $1,000. 

The underpayment penalty is calculated based on the underpaid amount, the period in which you underpaid, and interest rates set by the IRS.

Daniel de Visé

More than $1 billion in tax refunds remain unclaimed

More than $1 billion in tax refunds have yet to be claimed, and the clock is ticking.

The Internal Revenue Service recently announced that around 940,000 people still haven’t submitted tax returns for the 2020 tax year, with many awaiting refunds. They have until May 17.

"There’s money remaining on the table for hundreds of thousands of people who haven’t filed 2020 tax returns," IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel said in a release. 

The federal tax collector urges taxpayers to act ahead of the deadline. 

Anthony Robledo

Why is my refund taking so long?

Are you wondering why your refund check hasn’t arrived? Here’s what to do.

First, check the calendar. Most refunds are issued within 21 days of being received, the IRS says. 

Next, check with the IRS. Its  "Where's my Refund" tool can help you track your refund.

The agency is processing returns at a slightly slower pace this year than last: 88.8 million vs. 89.7 million, as of late March. 

If your refund is delayed, the IRS lists several possible reasons:

• - It was sent by mail
• - It contains errors or is incomplete
• - It needs further review
• - It is affected by identity theft or fraud
• - It was referred to the IRS by the bank due to suspicious activity
• - It includes an Injured Spouse Allocation form, which could take up to 14 weeks to process

James Powel

What is a W-4 form?

According to the Internal Revenue Service, you should complete a Form W-4 so that your employer can withhold the correct federal income tax from your pay.

Accurately filling out this form can help you avoid a tax payment when you file your return.

The IRS says you should "consider completing a new Form W-4 each year and when your personal or financial situation changes."

The IRS' latest version of the W-4 form is available on its website.

Gabe Hauari

Today is your last chance to contribute to an IRA for 2023

Believe it or not, there’s still time – one more day, to be precise – to contribute to your Individual Retirement Account and take the tax break for 2023.

You can contribute to an IRA up to April 15 and have the money count toward your 2023 savings. The contribution limit for 2023 is $6,500 if you’re under 50, $7,500 if you’re older. 

"There is a 15-month window to make IRA contributions for any given year," said Mary Ryan, a certified financial planner at Vanguard. 

If you haven’t maxed out your contributions, you have until the end of the day.

You'll get an answer faster if you call the IRS

The IRS answered 1 million additional calls, up roughly 17% from 2023, through April 6. And in what could be a surprising development to many, the IRS has reduced wait times on its phone lines to 3 minutes, according to the U.S. Department of Treasury's release Monday. Just two years ago, taxpayers were stuck waiting on hold an average of 28 minutes, according to Treasury.

Phone service improved as call volume rose roughly 13%. What's helped pare the wait time? The IRS has a call back option now that's available to 97% of eligible taxpayers at the start of the call, according to Treasury, if the expected wait time is longer than 15 minutes.

The IRS phone number is 800-829-1040.

Susan Tompor

What is net pay? How is it different from gross pay?

Here's what you should know about net pay: what it is, how to calculate it, and the difference between gross pay vs. net pay. 

In simple terms, gross pay is an employee's total earned wages before payroll deductions. Net pay is the money you take home from your paycheck after the deductions. The deductions include taxes and benefits. 

For example, if someone gets paid $1,200 per week but $160 is taken away in deductions, the person's net pay will be $1,040 per week. 

Olivia Munson

Are IRS tax refunds bigger or smaller in 2024?

As of April 5, the average refund this year totals $3,011. That's up 4.6% compared to the same time last year, when refunds averaged $2,878, the IRS reports.

A few more statistics of note:

• The average amount refunded by direct deposit is $3,088 through April 5, compared to $2,942 last year, a 4.9% increase.
• The total number of returns received by IRS so far is 101.8 million, up from 101.3 million at this time in 2023.
• The IRS has processed 100.1 million returns as of April 5, compared to 100.4 million at this time last year.
• Visits to the IRS website are up a whopping 18.2%, from about 421 million last year to 497 million this year. The agency has been working to improve customer service.

Daniel de Visé

What triggers an IRS audit?

When you're audited, it means your return was singled out for closer inspection. This happens because your tax filing was among those that showed the "highest potential noncompliance," the IRS says. The agency uses data-driven algorithms, third-party information, whistleblowers and information on the forms you submit to determine if income, expenses and credits are reported accurately.

What triggers an audit? Mismatches. Make sure you enter your information from official tax forms correctly, so the numbers are consistent, said Erin Collins, National Taxpayer Advocate at the Taxpayer Advocate Service division of the IRS. The agency also looks for outliers, like a filer who writes off travel costs way above what the typical taxpayer would deduct.

The easiest way to avoid an audit is to be "accurate, honest, and modest," said Eric Scaringe, principal at certified public accounting firm UHY.

Medora Lee

Filing an extension on Tax Day? You may need form 4868

Tax filers who aren't prepared to submit their returns on Tax Day can use IRS Free File to request an extension electronically. But if you prefer to mail a paper version of the extension, you'll need form 4868.

If you send the form by mail, make sure it's postmarked no later than April 15: today is the deadline for filing an extension. If you get an extension, you'll have until Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024, to file your return.

Where to send the form depends on where you live. Here is a list of addresses.

Gabe Hauari

What is net pay?How it works, how to calculate it and its difference from gross pay

More:You may need Form 4868 to file a tax extension. Here's what to know as deadline looms.

What other tax deadlines fall on April 15?

Tax Day is not just the deadline to file your federal taxes for the prior year. 

If you earn income that isn't subject to withholding taxes, you're typically required to make estimated tax payments to the IRS. The agency divides the year into four quarterly payment periods, and the first quarterly payment for 2024 is due today.

Most state taxes are also due on April 15. Residents of Massachusetts and Maine have until April 17 to file federal taxes because of state holidays. There are other exceptions. 

Daniel de Visé

Where’s my refund?

You've already filed your tax return for 2023. You have a refund coming. You want to know where it is.

There are multiple ways to receive a tax refund, but the fastest by far is electronically, the IRS says. If you filed electronically and chose to receive your refund by direct deposit, your refund will probably be issued within 21 days. If you mailed a paper return and expect a refund, it could take four weeks or more to process your return.

Through the IRS "Where's My Refund" tool, you can track when the IRS received your tax return, when it approved a refund, and when it issued the refund. If you chose direct deposit, the money should land in your account within five days from the date the IRS approves your refund. You can also call 800-829-1954.  

Medora Lee

Should I file my taxes online or at the post office?

You’ve waited till the last day to file your 2023 tax return. The minutes are ticking by. Now, you face a choice: Should you file online, and try your luck with an overtaxed IRS website? Or should you print it out and head to the post office, risking long lines?

Neither choice is entirely safe. The IRS website famously crashed on Tax Day in 2018, prompting the agency to give frustrated taxpayers a rare one-day extension. 

Long lines used to be the norm at post offices on tax day. You may still face a wait if you mail your form today. The Postal Service says some locations will offer extended hours, and suggests you call your local post office to check.

The IRS recommends electronic filing. Many tax experts agree.

“Filing tax returns electronically is typically the preferred option,” said Eric Bronnenkant, director of tax at Betterment, a financial advisory company. “Even at the last minute, it is likely better than using mail.” 

Daniel de Visé

Can I file my taxes for free on Tax Day?

Yes! More people are filing their taxes using Free File this year, the IRS says.

Free File allows any taxpayer with an adjusted gross income of $79,000 or less in 2023 to file taxes for free through one of eight IRS partners. To access the service, go online at IRS Free File and use the guided software.

If you're eligible, a free filing can save you a pretty penny. An individual taxpayer is estimated to spend 13 hours and $240 in out-of-pocket costs to prepare and file an annual tax return, according to the Taxpayer Advocate. 

Medora Lee

Why is April 15 Tax Day?

April 15 might seem an arbitrary date for the entire nation to file taxes. Here's some background:

Historical sources tell us President Lincoln first levied internal taxes in 1862, during the Civil War. The federal government adopted the modern income tax system in 1913, with the 16th Amendment. The original Tax Day fell on March 1. Congress moved the date to March 15 a few years later. In the 1950s, Tax Day was moved to April 15. The date shifts gave Americans more time to prepare their returns.

Some years, Tax Day falls later than April 15, typically because the date falls on a weekend.

Daniel de Visé

Tax Day freebies and food deals

Tax Day has its perks. Fast food and sit-down restaurants across the U.S. are offering customers freebies and discounts to celebrate the occasion.

Whether you've already filed your taxes and are waiting on your tax refund, or you need to file a tax extension, you can take a break and seek out free or discounted treats. A few examples:

•  Krispy Kreme customers can purchase an Original Glazed or assorted dozen in shop and receive a second Original Glazed dozen for the price of sales tax in their state.
• GrubHub is offering a $15 discount on delivery orders worth $25 or more.
• Potbelly shops nationwide are offering customers a free Original sandwich with the purchase of any Original or Big sized sandwich.

Gabe Hauari

What happens if you don't file your taxes on time?

Not filing a tax return can trigger two potential penalties: one for failure to file, the other for failure to pay. Together, they can max out at 50% of the tax you owe.

Failure to file: If you miss the April 15 deadline, the standard penalty is 5% of any tax due for every month your return is late, up to 25% of the unpaid balance.

Failure to pay: If you file a return by the deadline but fail to pay taxes you owe, or if you get an extension and leave a balance unpaid, you typically face a much smaller monthly penalty of 0.5% of any unpaid amount, up to 25% of the unpaid tax.

James Powel and Emily DeLetter

How do I file an extension with the IRS?

Sometimes, you just need more time.

If you can’t make the April 15 deadline, experts say, the next best thing is to seek an extension. If approved, it provides filers a six-month grace period to file, though it does not provide an extension to pay. 

The deadline for filing an extension is today, April 15. If you get one, you'll have until Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 to file your return.

Tax Day deals 2024:Score discounts, freebies at Krispy Kreme, Hooters, Potbelly, more

You can request a free extension through the IRS. You'll need basic information, like your name, address, Social Security number, and estimated tax liability. Be prepared to make a payment, if you owe anything and have the funds.

Tax filers can use IRS Free File to request an extension electronically. If you prefer to mail a paper version of the extension, called form 4868, make sure it's postmarked no later than April 15.

James Powel and Emily DeLetter