The Tax Deadline Has Passed, Now What?

Each year, the regular federal and CA state tax deadline typically falls on April 15. If you request a tax extension, the extended deadline is October 15.

For example, during the 2025 tax season:

• The regular deadline was April 15, 2025.

• The extended deadline is October 15, 2025.

If you did not owe taxes, you were not required to request an extension and there is no penalty for filing late.

If you did owe taxes, requesting an extension helped you avoid a late filing penalty, though it did not stop interest from accruing on any unpaid taxes.

California residents typically receive an automatic extension from the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), but interest on unpaid federal and state taxes begins accruing after April 15, even if an extension is in place.

If You Owe Taxes and Didn’t File

If you owe taxes and did not file by April 15, and miss both the April 15 and October 15 deadlines, here’s what to expect:

1. Late Filing Penalty: If you didn’t request an extension by April 15, you could still file late, but a penalty fee applied to your federal return. For example, if you filed three months after April 15, you could no longer request an extension from the IRS—you would simply file late, with penalties and interest added. While a tax extension waives the late filing penalty, it does not stop interest from accruing on owed taxes.
2. Interest on Unpaid Taxes: Interest on unpaid federal and state taxes started accruing immediately after April 15, regardless of whether an extension was filed.
3. Minimize Additional Fees: To avoid rising interest fees, file as soon as possible. Pay as much of the owed taxes as you can, even if you cannot pay the full amount. Explore different payment options offered by the Franchise Tax Board (FTB) and the IRS to manage your balance.

If You Do Not Owe Taxes and Didn’t File

If you don’t owe taxes and missed the April 15 and October 15 deadlines, fines and penalties do not apply. You can still file late, but make sure to still file as soon as possible to claim any refund owed to you.

Please note that May 17, 2024, was the final opportunity to claim the first and second stimulus payments. April 15, 2025, was the last opportunity to claim the third payment.

Additionally, if you qualify for tax credits such as the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) or Child Tax Credit, you’ll need to file in order to access these cash-back credits.

• You have four years to claim the CalEITC and the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC).
• You have three years to claim the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

Need help determining 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 2024”) 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. Through MyFreeTaxes.org, options to amend your return are available until October 15.

• Option 1: If You Filed with a Free Tax Prep Site
  If 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 Online
  If 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 file
  If 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 you lost a copy of a previous year tax return, the first step should be to revisit the filing method you used to file your taxes, to request a copy.

If you used one of our filing methods:

• In-Person Option:
  VITA sites are not required to archive and issue additional copies of filers’ tax returns. If you have a VITA appointment scheduled, you can ask at that time if they can provide an additional copy of your return.
• File on my own option:
  Log back into the tax software to access the return you filed through the self-filing software.
• Virtual with help option:
  Contact support@getyourrefund.org to request a copy of a return filed through Get Your Refund.
  

Other alternatives:

You can request a tax transcript from both the IRS and the Franchise Tax Board (CA) for any tax year free of charge. Alternatively, you can request an original copy of your tax return from the IRS or FTB for a fee.

For more information on how to do this, click here.

We offer free filing options after the April 15 tax deadline, but not after the October 15 deadline. If you missed the October 15 deadline, you can revisit our website to file the following January. 

For free help with previous year returns, MyFreeTaxes.org offers two options:

• In-Person Assistance: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites can typically prepare up to three prior-year returns, with some locations able to prepare up to five. Please check with your local site for specific details.
• Virtual Help: Our virtual assistance option covers up to three previous tax years.

Important: Previous year returns cannot be filed using the self-filing option. The self-filing option is available for current-year returns only.

Read more about IRS mailed notifications on our website here.

If you need assistance with understanding or responding to IRS notifications, Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics (LITCs) may be able to help. LITCs offer free or low-cost services to individuals who have a tax dispute with the IRS or need help with tax-related issues. They provide representation in audits, appeals, and tax collection disputes, and can assist with correcting account problems and responding to IRS notices. Additionally, LITCs offer education and outreach in different languages for individuals who speak English as a second language (ESL).

To find an LITC near you, visit the IRS website.

Text the word TAXES to 211-211, and we’ll notify you when filing opens for the 2026 tax season.

In the meantime, we’ve got resources to help you get ready for next tax season. You can prepare by reviewing the following:

• Tax Prep Checklist
• Tax Season Readiness Toolkit
• ITIN Resource Hub
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)