So You Missed the Tax Deadline. What Happens Now?

A hand holds a crumpled Form 1040 tax form over a light brown wooden desk holding a calculator, hardback book, and several hundred-dollar bills

If you forgot to file your 2025 tax return on time, your best move is to finish it ASAP.

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Tax Day (April 15) has come and gone. If you completed and filed your 2025 US federal income tax return on time, congratulations. Now the only hard part is waiting to see when your tax refund will arrive.

But what about procrastinators or people missing tax info who weren’t able to finish by yesterday? Well, it depends.

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.

If you filed a free six-month extension, received an automatic two-month extension because you’re abroad or live in one of the states or cities that have later income-tax deadlines due to natural disasters, you’ve got some more time. But if you simply didn’t file your taxes

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