Tax Planning Pages

Tax Return Deadlines, Life Cycle

 

Let's work together on your taxes due by 4/15/2025.
For 2025 Tax Returns, the due date will be April 15, 2026.
Keep more of your hard-earned money now!

The Tax Return Planning Life Cycle

A1: Between now and December 31 is a critical tax planning time: Fail to Plan is Plan to Fail! See tax reminders for December 31.

A2: Start gathering your receipts (medical expenses, home sales/purchase transactions, etc.)

tax return timeline

A3: Use the eFile.com Tax Preparation Checklist.

Enjoy the Thanksgiving Holiday - but don't discuss taxes during dinner. It's too charged of a topic!

B1: Review the tax implications of life changing events.

B2: Review your tax filing status, find out if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, or see whether you should even file a tax return this year.

B3: Use the many interactive tax return tools and assess your tax self.

B4: Review potential tax deductions. Got any ongoing deductible expenses? Get them in by December 31.

B5: You could be eligible for tax credits; don't leave money on the table!

tax return timeline

B6: Set or update your communication preferences with eFile.com.

B7: Between now and December 31, use the eFile.com TAXstimator.

B8: Tax Play and Tax Win. Make us work for you! We give out gift cards, promo codes, and free tax returns.

B9: Last but not least: Good tax planning might free up some funds later during tax return time. This will help you pay for the many December religious and multicultural holiday gifts. You will be able to more easily focus on these holidays if you don't have to worry about your taxes - and planning it in advance here on eFile.com will help you do that.

Happy Holidays!

Start of New Calendar Year
e-File This Year's Return

Happy New Year! Are you ready for your refund?

C1: Which tax service on eFile.com is right for you? Taxesfaction guaranteed! Not sure? Dare to Compare eFile.com versus H&R Block® or TurboTax®!

tax return timeline

C2: Create or sign into your eFile.com account. Have all your tax records ready and start entering your information: name, address, income, deductions, etc. eFile.com will do the rest and show you the results. Ask a Taxpert® questions at any time from the tax app. You don't have to do this alone!

C3: Important: We strongly recommend that you start preparing your return but don't e-file before January 31 as that is the deadline by when you should have received your important forms. Even after this date, do not file unless you are 100% certain that you have received and entered all your income and deductions forms (W-2s from jobs, 1099 forms, bank interest, 1098 for home mortgage interest). Too many taxpayers who e-file to fast end up having to complete and file a tax amendment.

C4: Estimate your tax refund date on eFile.com.

C5: Think about your upcoming estimated tax payments for the 2023 tax year.

C6: January is the time to taxercise your W-4 or tax withholding with the paycheck tax calculator. The W-4 Form significantly impacts your tax return results, does do not withhold too many taxes with each paycheck.

D1: Start the checkout process on eFile.com! Depending on your situation, you can select either one of these tax refund options or these ways to pay for taxes. Questions? Access premium eFile.com support at any time.

D2: Have your prior year AGI or adjusted gross income handy and enter your correct bank information if you selected direct bank deposit or address in case you requested a check in the mail. During checkout, make sure you click the green "E-file" button to e-file your tax return and complete the process.

tax return timeline

D3: Under My Account in the eFile Tax App, verify the accuracy of your email address as you will receive critical transactional emails on the status and progress of your tax return(s). Add this email address to your white list in your email inbox so important eFile.com emails don't land in your spam folder: support@efile.com.

D4: Tax return status: After you have signed into your eFile.com account, you will see one of these tax return statuses listed: e-File Your Return, Pending, Rejected, or Accepted.

D5: Check your IRS and/or state tax refund status after your returns have been accepted by the respective agencies.

D6: Need to make a correction after the IRS or state - not eFile.com - rejected your return? See instructions to make the correction and refile for free as many times as needed.

D6: Where is your refund money? Lookup your tax refund status online.

E1: Keep a copy of your completed, electronically filed, and accepted tax returns. Download them under My Account in the eFile Tax App.

E2: Need to only prepare one or more state returns without filing an IRS return?

tax return timeline

E3: At the end of March, you can e-file an IRS tax extension via eFile.com, but what about state tax extensions?

E4: Darn! Need to make a change to an accepted IRS or state return? Learn about tax amendments.

E5: Need to prepare and file back taxes for years prior to the current year? Pick a tax year here.

F1: Welcome procrastinators to eFile.com! Just in case you are curious how many hours you have left to make this year's tax deadline, we've got the answer for you! Additionally, find your state's tax return deadline.

F2: Get this: the tax penalties for NOT e-filing anything are higher than NOT paying anything (if you owe taxes). Estimate your potential tax penalties.

F3: File a tax return or tax extension: is that your question? Check the specific state extension deadlines that might apply to you.

tax return timeline

F4: Not only is April 15 the deadline to file the 2023 tax return, but you have 3 years from the tax year in question to file and claim a tax refund. After that, your tax refund money belongs to the IRS. Don't become part of the unclaimed refund statistic.

G1: If you owe taxes, check again whether your return(s) got accepted by the IRS and state agencies if applicable.

G2: If one or more of your return(s) got rejected by the IRS or state(s), follow these rejection correction steps.

G3: If you e-filed a tax extension, you only have one day to make any corrections and re-file.

G4: Make sure you have a copy of your completed, e-filed, and accepted tax returns. You can also keep copies in your eFile.com account, but you should download them for your records under My Account within the eFile Tax App.

H1: In case you missed the April 15 deadline, don't worry: you can still e-file your IRS and state taxes here on eFile.com until mid-October. After the Oct. deadline, it's only paper returns for back taxes.

H2: Would you like just to prepare and file one or more state tax returns? On eFile.com, you can prepare as many states as you need for one low price of for all - not just one - state(s). Start now.

H3: Set your Tax Return goals. Taxercise your income, paycheck, and tax withholding: start the Taxometer now.

tax return timeline

H4: Keep more of your hard earned money. The Taxometer will give you detailed instructions on what your tax withholding should be based on your 2023 year tax return and your future tax goals.

H5: Don't self-impose a tax refund penalty! Too many taxpayers do this, find out!

H6: Still need to prepare and file back taxes for past tax years?

H7: Make changes to an accepted tax return or file a tax amendment.

H8: Did you e-file an IRS tax extension via eFile.com and/or mail in a state tax extension? Sign into your eFile Account to prepare and e-file your IRS and state tax returns by October 15 each year. Don't face a late filing penalty after October 15! If you owe taxes, file something even if you can't pay anything!

H9: Fail to Plan Is Plan to Fail. Right or wrong, taxes are in every aspect of our lives. See how life changing events might impact your taxes.

H10: April 18: Did you know that we work almost 24 hours on Tax Day here for you? Don't get caught in this tax rush! You are gambling with the deadline. After you have e-filed by 11:59 PM on April 15, follow points D4, D5, and D6 as listed above.

I1: Oct. 1 - you have only a couple weeks to prepare and e-file your current tax return. Don't delay and start now.

I2: Do you only need to prepare one or more state returns without an IRS return?

tax return timeline

I3: Do you need to make one or more changes to an accepted IRS or state return? Learn about how to prepare and mail tax amendments.

I4: Owe taxes and don't have the funds to pay? That should not be a reason not to e-file. Late filing penalties are considerably higher than late tax payment penalties. Thus, prepare and e-file by October 15 right here, right now.

The Day After October 15

If you missed the October 15 deadline
to e-file your taxes, find tax forms and calculator tools by tax year.
See the deadline for your state(s).
Tip: If you prepared your return on eFile.com but did not e-file,
your return is in your My Account for you to download and mail in.

J1: Check again whether your return(s) got accepted by the IRS and state agencies if applicable.

J2: Need to make a correction to one or more of your return(s)? Follow these instructions and re-file at no charge.

J3: Last but not least: Keep a copy of your completed, e-filed, and accepted tax returns. Download them from the My Account page in the eFile.com Tax App.

October 15 - End of October

Tax return and record keeping maintenance time:
The annual tax return cycle starts again at the top of this page,
The year just changes!

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