Federal Tax Deadlines Table
| Date | What is due | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 15 | Q4 estimated tax (prior year) | Thu Jan 15 | Fri Jan 15 |
| Apr 15 | File return · Q1 estimate · extension request | Wed Apr 15 | Thu Apr 15 |
| Jun 15 | Q2 estimated tax | Mon Jun 15 | Tue Jun 15 |
| Sep 15 | Q3 estimated tax | Tue Sep 15 | Wed Sep 15 |
| Oct 15 | Extended filing deadline | Thu Oct 15 | Fri Oct 15 |
Six federal dates can cost you real money, and only one of them is Tax Day. The table covers 2026 and 2027: the quarterly estimated-tax deadlines (April 15, June 15, September 15, and January 15 of the following tax year), the filing deadline, and the October extension deadline - each with its weekday and a live counter to whichever one comes next.
The dates above already follow the IRS rolling rules: a deadline that lands on a weekend or a Washington, D.C. holiday moves to the next business day. That is why Tax Day is sometimes April 17 or 18 - the Emancipation Day holiday (April 16 in D.C., where the IRS is headquartered) pushed the 2023 deadline to April 18 and will do it again in 2028. Every date in this table, including those future rolls, is computed with the same rule.
How to use
- Read the counter first: it shows the days left until the next deadline and what is due on it - the January 15 date closes the prior year's fourth estimate, the April 15 date is three deadlines at once.
- Use the table to plan the tax year: notice the uneven spacing (two months from April to June, three from June to September) - the IRS keeps the dates, not the rhythm.
- If April 15 arrives and the return is not ready, request the extension (Form 4868, automatic) and pay what you can: the extension buys time to file, never time to pay.
Frequently asked questions
Does an extension delay my payment?
No. Interest on unpaid tax runs from April 15 regardless, plus the failure-to-pay penalty: 0.5% of the unpaid tax per month, capped at 25% per the IRS. What the extension buys is filing room - April 15 to October 15 is 183 extra days in 2026 - so file the form and send an honest estimate with it.
What happens if I blow past April 15 entirely?
Two penalties stack, per the IRS: failure to file is 5% of the tax due for each month or partial month, capped at 25%; failure to pay is 0.5% per month. In any month where both apply, the file penalty is reduced by the pay penalty. The truly expensive mistake is not filing at all - and once a return is more than 60 days late, a separate minimum penalty kicks in.
Why is Tax Day sometimes April 17 or 18?
Because of a D.C. holiday most people have never heard of. April 16 is Emancipation Day in Washington, D.C.; when it - or a weekend - collides with April 15, the deadline rolls to the next business day. That is how 2022 and 2023 both ended up with an April 18 Tax Day, and the same collision returns in 2028. Every other year in this table keeps April 15.
Who actually needs the quarterly dates?
Anyone with income that carries no withholding: freelancers, the self-employed, landlords, investors. The IRS safe harbor makes the target simple - pay 90% of this year's tax, or 100% of last year's (110% if your adjusted gross income topped $150,000), split across the four dates, and underpayment penalties are off the table.