If You Can’t Finish Your Income Taxes by Wednesday, You Need to File a Free Extension

It’s the final week to finish your 2025 tax return by the original deadline, but an extension will give you six more months.

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For folks who’ve been procrastinating on US income taxes this year, your time is nearly up: Wednesday, April 15, is the income tax deadline for most US taxpayers. 

If you’re wondering if you have enough time before Wednesday to finish your 2025 tax return, or if you’re still missing important tax documents, don’t fret. You can file a free tax extension with the IRS, which will give you another six months to complete and submit your tax return.

This story is part of Taxes 2026, CNET’s coverage of the best tax software, tax tips and everything else you need to file your return and track your refund.

There’s no cost or penalty for filing a tax extension, and most tax software will help you complete the process in a