The Tax Deadline Has Passed, Now What?

If you owe taxes and did not file by April 15, keep in mind that there are two fees you should look out for: 

1. Penalty fee for filing late without requesting an extension by the tax deadline 
2. Interest fees that begin to accumulate right after the tax deadline for any taxes owed 

Please note that requesting a tax extension does not prevent interest fees for any owed taxes from accruing; it does waive a penalty fee for filing late, but only if the extension was filed before the tax deadline.

If you do not owe any taxes and did not file by April 15, you do not have to worry about fines or penalties. You can still file late, but make sure to still file as soon as possible to claim any refund owed to you.

For example, if you were eligible for any of the three economic impact payments (also known as stimulus payments) issued in 2020 and 2021 and still haven’t claimed these payments yet, now is your time to do so. May 17, 2024, is the final opportunity to claim the first and second stimulus payments. April 15, 2025, will be the last opportunity to claim the third payment.

If you qualify for tax credits such as the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) or Child Tax Credit, you need to file in order to access these cash-back credits. You have four years to go back and claim the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) and Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC) and three years to claim the federal Earned income Tax Credit (EITC).

If you need help figuring out if you need to file, click here.

Federal Refund:

Check the status of your federal refund on the IRS website here.

For e-filed returns, refunds can take up to 21 days to process. For amended returns and returns sent by mail, it may take four weeks or more. However, if your return requires corrections or additional review, it could take longer. For more answers to frequently asked questions regarding federal refunds, click here. If there was an error in regard to where the federal refund payment should be made to, click here.

For additional support with a federal refund, contact the IRS at 800-829-1954 (automated system) or 800-829-1040 (to speak with a representative) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. local time.

CA State Refund

Check the status of your California state refund on the Franchise Tax Board website here. 

Refunds for e-filed California returns can take up to three weeks, while refunds for paper-filed returns may take up to three months. For more answers to frequently asked questions regarding CA state refunds, click here.

For additional support with a CA state refund, contact the Franchise Tax Board at 800-852-5711 or 916-845-6500 (outside the U.S.) on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Make Payments to the IRS

There are multiple options when it comes to paying taxes if you owe:

• Online: You may submit a payment when filing an extension or taxes online with your complete bank account and bank routing number. Another fast and secure way to make any payment is on the IRS website at www.irs.gov/payments.
• Phone: You may also call the IRS general line to make a payment through the automated phone system at 1-800-829-1040.
• Mail: You may make payments by mail using a personal check or money order. It is important to include relevant notes with your check or money order payment—such as which tax year you would like the payment applied to (for example, “Tax Year 2023”) and your social security number or ITIN on the check memo. Checks written to the IRS are written to the Department of Treasury.

Here is a sample check with relevant information you should include:

Make Payments to the Franchise Tax Board

When it comes to paying the Franchise Tax Board, the process is similar. You can pay over the phone, online, or by mailing a check.

• Online: To pay online, visit: https://www.ftb.ca.gov/pay.
• Phone: To make any payment or set up a payment plan with the Franchise Tax Board via phone, you can call 1 (800) 852-5711.
• Mail: To mail your payment to the Franchise Tax Board, send a check written out to the Franchise Tax Board to the following mailing address.
  
  Franchise Tax Board
  P.O. Box 942867
  Sacramento, CA 94267-0001

It is easiest to amend (fix a mistake on) a return using the same method used to originally file.

• Option 1: If You Filed with a Free Tax Prep SiteIf you filed at a VITA site, it is recommended to amend at the same site. If that site is unavailable, you can amend at a different site, but they will need a little extra time to enter the original return details.
• Option 2: If You Self Filed OnlineIf you self filed online, the software you used will likely have a method to amend your return. Consult the instructions on your filing software to see if it’s capable of filing your amendment.If you used TaxSlayer through MyFreeTaxes.org, read more here.
• Option 3: Amending using a different method than the one you used to fileIf you are eligible for MyFreeTaxes software, you can prepare an amendment with us for free! Read more here. If you would like to file a paper amendment by mail, check out these video guides:
  • Filing a Federal Tax Amendment
  • Filing a California Tax Amendment

If you have a large tax bill and are unable to pay it all at once, you have the ability to apply for a payment plan.  First, you’ll need to see if you qualify, then you’ll need to apply directly with the IRS or Franchise Tax Board.

To apply for a payment plan with the IRS (federal taxes) click here.
To apply for a payment plan with the Franchise Tax Board (California) click here.

Read more about payment relief options here.

If the return was filed and accepted: 

1. Log in to the account 
2. Click on the tax year you wish to view under the Prior Year Returns heading
3. Click on Access Return > Continue
4. Select View/Print return to print, view, or save a copy of the accepted return 

If the return was not e-filed or was rejected:

1. Log in to the account 
2. Click on the tax year you wish to view under the Prior Year Returns heading
3. Select Fix Return > Continue
4. Continue to the Summary/Print screen to print a copy of the current information in the account

Another option is to get a transcript of your prior year return though the IRS.  You can get a copy of your transcripts directly through the IRS here.

You have four years to claim credits like the California Earned Income Tax Credit and Young Child Tax Credit, and three years to claim the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.  If you didn’t file a previous return and want to file for free, you have a couple options through MyFreeTaxes.org: file online with help or in person.

Please note that previous year returns cannot be filed using our self-filing option; the self-filing option can only be used for current year returns.

Yes! We still offer free filing options after the April 15 tax deadline.