2025 Tax Extension Deadline - What Time on October 15th Do Returns Need to Be Filed?

You have until 11:59 PM on October 15th (the actual deadline day) to file your return electronically. The IRS considers a return as filed on time if it's transmitted and accepted by midnight in your local time zone on the due date. If you're mailing a paper return, it needs to be postmarked by October 15th. Most post offices have regular hours on that day, though some locations offer extended hours during tax seasons. I'd recommend checking with your local post office if you're planning to mail it. Just make sure you leave yourself enough time to complete everything - the IRS e-file system can get bogged down on deadline day, and you don't want technology issues to cause you to miss the deadline.

I was in the exact same situation last year, totally stressing about the deadline. I found this tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that was a lifesaver for me when I was scrambling to meet the extension deadline. It helped me organize all my tax documents and even identified some deductions I would've missed in my rush. What's cool is it can scan through all your docs and give you a clear picture of everything you need - super helpful when you're down to the wire like this. I was able to get everything submitted by like 10pm on deadline day when I thought I was going to miss it for sure.

So I was super skeptical about taxr.ai but decided to try it this weekend since I'm in the same boat with the extension deadline coming up. I gotta say I'm actually impressed. It found a home office deduction I was missing and some business expenses I forgot about that will save me around $1200 in taxes. It was way more thorough than just using my regular tax software. Definitely helped me feel more confident that I'm not overpaying with this rushed extension filing. Wish I'd known about it sooner but at least I'll be ready for next year!

If you're cutting it close to the October 15th deadline and need to talk to the IRS about anything, good luck trying to get through on the phone. I spent HOURS on hold last year. Then I found this service called Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) that got me through to an actual IRS person in about 15 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was shocked it actually worked. Had a question about my payment plan options with the extension deadline and was dreading the typical 2+ hour hold time. They basically call and wait on hold for you, then call you when they get a human. Saved me a ton of time when I was stressing about the deadline.

I'm eating my words right now. After my skeptical comment, I was stuck with a question about my extension payment not being properly applied to my account. Called the IRS directly and was told the wait was over 2 hours. Decided to try Claimyr out of desperation. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes! The agent was able to locate my payment and fix the issue so I could file my final return. Seriously saved me from having to take time off work tomorrow to deal with this. Sometimes being proven wrong is a good thing I guess!

Just wanted to add that if you're getting a refund, there's technically no penalty for filing after the extension deadline. The October 15th deadline is really critical if you OWE money - that's when penalties and interest start accumulating. Of course, it's still best to file on time either way. But if you're expecting a refund and running into issues completing your return, you have a bit more breathing room.

One more tip for anyone filing last minute - make sure you save/print a copy of your return AND the confirmation page showing it was accepted. Screenshot the confirmation if using your phone. Last year I thought I filed on time but had no proof when the IRS claimed they never received it. Nightmare situation that took months to resolve!

Great advice from everyone here! Just wanted to add that if you're e-filing at the last minute, double-check that your software is actually submitting to the IRS and not just saving a draft. I made that mistake a few years ago - thought I had filed but just saved it locally on my computer. Also, if you're really cutting it close and worried about technical issues, consider having a backup plan. Some tax preparers offer same-day service, and while it's more expensive, it might be worth it for peace of mind if you're down to the wire. The October 15th deadline has been a lifesaver for me multiple times. Just remember - if you owe money, you should have already paid the estimated amount back in April to avoid interest charges, even with the extension!