04/16/2026
If you file your taxes after the deadline ( April 15 ) what happens depends on your situation:
If You’re Getting a Refund
* No penalty at all
* The Internal Revenue Service doesn’t charge you for filing late
* You’ll still get your full refund
* You have up to 3 years to claim it before it expires
Only downside: you get your money later
⚠️ If You Owe Taxes
This is where it gets serious:
1. Late Filing Penalty
* Usually 5% of your unpaid taxes per month
* Maxes out at 25%
2. Late Payment Penalty
* About 0.5% per month of what you owe
3. Interest
* Daily interest starts adding up immediately on unpaid taxes
⏳ If You Filed an Extension
* You get until October 15 to file
* BUT you still had to pay what you owe by April 15
* If you didn’t pay, penalties/interest still apply
🚨 Worst Case (if you ignore it)
* IRS can send notices
* Eventually garnish wages, bank levies, etc.
💡 What You Should Do RIGHT NOW
* File ASAP (even if you can’t pay)
* Pay something to reduce penalties
* Set up a payment plan with the IRS if needed
Call us to get your taxes filed