The 2026 tax filing season is here, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has urged American taxpayers to file their returns before the official deadline. But what if you miss the deadline – will there be a penalty? Or if you’ve filed your tax return but aren’t sure about its status or when the amount might be credited, here we answer all common tax return questions, including penalties for missing the deadline, refund tracking details and more.
When is the deadline for submitting a tax return?
Commonly known as Tax Day in the US, the tax filing deadline is April 15, 2026.
What happens if you miss the April 15 deadline?
If you miss the deadline for filing your tax return on April 15, 2025, it can lead to several penalties and consequences. Taxpayers who fail to file their 2025 tax return may face a failure-to-file penalty of 5% of unpaid taxes after the credit is credited. This penalty is charged for each month or part of a month that the refund is delayed and can be applied for up to five months.
Filing taxes more than 60 days late can result in a penalty of 100% of the taxes owed or up to $485, whichever is less.
In addition, you may face a non-payment penalty of approximately 0.5% of your unpaid taxes. This penalty is charged monthly until it reaches a maximum of 25% of your unpaid balance.
Where to check the tax refund?
Taxpayers can track their refund status using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool, available 24 hours a day on IRS.gov and the IRS2Go app.
When can you start checking the status of your tax refund?
You can check the status of your refund 24 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt of your e-filed return, 3 to 4 days after you e-filed the previous year’s return, or 4 weeks after you mailed your paper return.
The tool refreshes daily, usually overnight, and is generally unavailable between 4:00 AM and 5:00 AM ET.
What details do you need to check the status of your refund?
To check the status of your refund on the Where’s My Refund? platform, taxpayers will have to provide –
- Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
- Filing status (e.g. single, married, filing jointly)
- The exact full dollar amount of the expected refund
What should you expect when checking the refund status?
The refund tracker will show taxpayers the progress of their refund in three stages.
1. Return Received – The IRS has received the tax return and is currently processing it.
2. Refund Approved – The IRS has approved the refund and is arranging payment.
3. Refund sent – the refund was transferred to the taxpayer’s bank account or posted as a check.
How long does it take for the refund to be credited?
Refunds are usually made within 21 days of receipt of the electronically filed return. However, some refunds may take longer due to specific circumstances.