SELECT Americans can get an automatic tax return extension this year if they meet a few criteria.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows the wiggle room for certain taxpayers who suffered a potentially life-altering event during 2024.
This unique benefit is set aside for disaster victims, particularly those who reside in areas with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declarations last year, per a recent IRS news release.
If their address is within the allotted area, any business or individual automatically qualifies for the return filing deadline extension without needing to request it.
The new deadline with the extension differs on a state-by-state basis, with the majority of eligible disaster victims from last year having a firm deadline to file of May 1, 2025, instead of April 15.
Taxpayers who live anywhere in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, or South Carolina are within the group that automatically has the extension until May 1.
Select residents in Alaska, New Mexico, Tennessee, and Virginia also qualify but must have addresses within specific counties.
A comprehensive list of counties is included on the tax relief in disaster situations page on the IRS website.
Some other states and counties across the country have even later deadlines.
For example, taxpayers who live in Los Angeles County in California, don’t have to file until October 15, 2025, due to the wildfires this January.
Additionally, all residents of Kentucky and several counties in West Virginia have until November 3, 2025, to submit their tax returns.
There’s also special relief for American taxpayers who live or have a business in Israel, Gaza, or the West Bank who were “affected by the terrorist attacks in the State of Israel,” per the IRS release.
An extension until September 30, 2025, is awarded for those individuals.
It includes almost all returns and taxes due from October 7, 2023, to September 30, 2025.
REQUEST REQUIRED
Americans should also remember that even if they weren’t affected by a disaster, they can still get an extension beyond May 1 if they request it.
Any requests for an extension must be made electronically by the standard April 15 deadline.
2025 Tax Season
Tax season started on January 27 and folks must have theirs completed filed on April 15.
Those who fail to file by that time may face penalties.
However, taxpayers who need more time may file for an extension – this gives them until October 15.
The way to do this is by filling out Form 4868, the Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return.
This can be done by mail, online with an IRS e-filing partner, or through a tax professional.
While there’s no set schedule, the IRS revealed that taxpayers may receive refunds within 21 days of filing.
Just be sure to avoid making mistakes on any forms as that could tack on extra time.
Those filing through mail will likely get their returns within a month or could even face delays as the IRS processes millions.
As of January 31, the average refund amount totaled $1,928, per the IRS.
This is compared to the $1,395 for the same period in 2024.
The average direct deposit refund for 2025 was even higher, the IRS said, at $2,069.
To check the status of your refund, The IRS has an online tool called Where’s My Refund?
This works within 24 hours of e-filing and generally within four weeks of filing a paper return.
An extension request like this will still require them to pay any taxes owed by the same date.
Disaster victims who have the May 1 deadline can also file for an additional extension between April 15 and then, it must be mailed in and filed out on paper using Form 4868.
Both groups, regular taxpayers who file for an extension electronically and qualifying disaster victims who file by paper, will get a new deadline of October 15 to file their 2024 return.
Again, each payment of any taxes owed is still due at the previous deadlines of April 15 (regular taxpayers) and May 1 (disaster victims).
The filing process is the only part that is prolonged.
Missing the payment could result in hefty penalties.
KEEP IN MIND
Americans should also keep other considerations in mind as the 2025 tax season slowly comes to a close.
The IRS recently revealed the “key filing guidelines” to get around $3,221 in refunds and ways to avoid a “number” delay.
Some taxpayers missing a crucial requirement by April 15 could also risk a 25% fine.
Select Americans will also not be taxed on five income types, but they must read the fine print or risk facing catastrophic fees.
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