What You Need to Know Before Tax Day 2025

Tax season is here, and it’s important to know when everything is due. For both federal taxes (IRS) and California state taxes (Franchise Tax Board), the deadline is Tuesday, April 15, 2025. This day is known as Tax Day. This is the final date to:

• Submit your tax return
• Pay any taxes you owe

If you don’t file or pay by this date, you might face late fees, interest, or penalties. Even if you don’t have all your paperwork ready, it’s best to pay any taxes you owe by April 15 to avoid extra charges.

Can I File My Taxes After April 15?

Yes, if you need more time, both the IRS and California allow you to file your tax return up to six months late—without a penalty. This means you have until October 15, 2025, to file your paperwork.

Important: This only applies to filing the forms, not to paying the taxes. You must still pay what you owe by April 15, even if you file the return later.

Also, some people automatically get more time to file and pay:

• If you were affected by the Los Angeles wildfires in early 2025, the IRS and California Franchise Tax Board are giving you more time.
• People living in Los Angeles County get an automatic six-month extension to file and pay.
• Emergency workers who were impacted by the fires—but don’t live in the disaster area—can also request an extension by calling the IRS at 866-562-5227.

Free Ways to File Your Taxes

Filing taxes doesn’t have to cost you money. There are many free options available if you meet certain conditions.

Here are some of the best free filing services:

IRS Direct File

• File your federal taxes for free
• For people who:
• Lived in California all of 2024
• Earned income only in California
• Are you using the same filing status for both state and federal returns
• Are not using the “married filing separately” option
• Have filed taxes in California within the past 5 years

You can check if you qualify on the IRS website.

IRS Free File

• If you made $84,000 or less in 2024, you can file federal taxes for free through the IRS Free File program
• Partners include FreeTaxUSA, Cash App, and others
• FreeTaxUSA charges $14.99 to file state taxes, while Cash App offers state filing for free

CalFile (for California state taxes)

• This is California’s official free filing service
• If you’ve filed California taxes in the past 5 years and meet the income rules, you can file your 2024 state return online for free

What If My W-2 Is Missing or Wrong?

If you never received your W-2 by the end of February, or if it has mistakes, here’s what you can do:

• Call the IRS at 800-829-1040
• Have your personal info and job details ready
• They’ll contact your employer to send you a new copy
• If your W-2 has incorrect information, you can:
• Call the IRS for help
• Or visit one of 28 IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers in California
• If your W-2 can’t be fixed in time:
• You may need to fill out Form 4852 (Substitute for Form W-2) to file your taxes
• Already filed with a bad W-2? Or did you get a corrected one later?
• Use Form 1040-X to submit an amended tax return

It’s important to fix this, or it might cause delays or problems with your refund.

When Will I Get My Refund—and Why Do Delays Happen?

After you file your return, the big question is: When will I get my refund?

Here’s what to expect:

IRS (Federal) Refunds

• If you file online, the IRS usually sends your refund within 21 days
• If you file by mail, it can take at least 4 weeks
• If you file an amended return, it might take up to 16 weeks

California Refunds

• Filed online? Refunds may arrive within 1 month
• Filed on paper? It could take up to 4 months

Why Are Refunds Delayed?

• Refunds can be slowed down for many reasons:
• The return was mailed instead of e-filed
• There are errors or missing info
• It was flagged for fraud or identity theft
• The form was amended
• The return includes special credits (like earned income or child tax credit)
• A bank flagged it as suspicious
• It needs extra review

To avoid delays:

• File electronically
• Use direct deposit for the fastest refund
• Double-check your information before submitting

You can check the status of your refund using:

• The IRS “Where’s My Refund?” tool
• The California Franchise Tax Board’s refund tracker

You’ll need your:

• Social Security Number (SSN) or taxpayer ID
• Filing status
• Refund amount
• Home address

Extra Info: IRS Layoffs May Cause More Delays

Due to staffing cuts, the IRS is expected to lay off up to 25% of its workforce—about 20,000 workers. Experts say simple, error-free tax returns filed electronically will likely still be processed on time. However, paper forms, older returns, or anything that needs extra help from a real person may face delays.

To avoid issues:

• E-file if you can
• Avoid mistakes
• Keep a copy of your tax return and W-2 forms

As of March 28, 2025, the IRS has already issued more than 61.5 million refunds, totaling over $195 billion.