- The tax filing deadline for Florida residents is Thursday, May 1, 2025, due to an extension granted by the IRS.
- While the extension provides extra time to file, it doesn't apply to any tax payments you were required to pay this year.
- Taxpayers in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina also received the same extension.
The official end of the 2024-2025 tax season passed for most U.S. taxpayers on Tuesday, April 15, but taxpayers in Florida automatically got a two-week extension, according to the IRS.
And that deadline is approaching next week.
Last year, theInternal Revenue Service announcedthat tax deadlines for some taxpayers in the 51 counties under astate of emergencyduring Hurricane Milton would automatically be pushed back to May 1, 2025.
An April 4 press release expanded that automatic extension to Florida taxpayers in all 67 counties in the state.
"The May 1, 2025, deadline applies to taxpayers affected by FEMA disaster declarations issued during 2024. These include: Taxpayers in the entire states ofAlabama,Florida,Georgia,North CarolinaandSouth Carolina," the IRS release said.
Here's what to know about filing taxes this year and the automatic extension for Floridians, which ends Thursday, May 1.
Do Florida residents have until May 1 to file taxes?
Yes. The last day to file your taxes in Florida is Thursday, May 1, 2025.
The last day to file taxes is calledTax Day,and it always falls on April 15, unless it’s a weekend or holiday.
But Florida taxpayers hadan extra couple of weeks to file this year, according to the IRS.
The extension doesn't give you more time to pay your taxes, though, just to file.
Did the IRS extend the tax deadline for Florida?
Yes. Taxpayers in the states of Florida, Alabama,Florida,Georgia,North CarolinaandSouth Carolina were given an extra two weeks to file. Taxpayers who were affected by natural disasters, like wildfires, in other states also benefit from the same extension.
An IRS representative told the USA TODAY Florida Network by phone on Tax Day, Tuesday, April 15, the IRS takes their cues from FEMA disaster declarations, which is why the extension is so sweeping.
You don't have to prove you were affected by last year's hurricanes to benefit from the extension; you just have to be a taxpayer in one of the affected areas.
According to the IRS's April 4 release, the entire state of Florida benefits from this automatic extension.
"Anyone who needs a tax filing extension beyond May 1, 2025, for tax year 2024 can get it, but they must request the extra time. This type of filing extension is not an extension of time to pay," the IRS said.
"Whether filed electronically or on paper, the extension will give a taxpayers until Oct. 15, 2025, to file their 2024 return."
The IRS emphasized tax payments are still due by May 1, 2025. VisitIRS.gov/extensionsfor details.
What documents do you need to file your taxes?
Here's a list of some tax forms you might need to fill out and what each of them are:
- Form 1040:If you’re using a tax filing service, like the IRS’s Free File service, they’ll have this form ready for you to fill out when the time comes. If you’re doing your taxes on your own, you’ll need to get a Form 1040 yourself from your library, or you can print it from the IRS’s website.
- W-2:If you work for an employer, they should give or mail your W-2 to you by the end of January. This form shows how much you earned last year and how much of what you made was deducted for taxes or other withholdings.
- 1099-NEC:This 1099 form is only applicable to you if you did freelance or contract work in 2023.
- 1099-K:If you’re a gig worker for a business like Uber, Lyft or Airbnb, you will probably use this form. This 1099 form is for reporting income that you received through third-parties, like payments through PayPal, debit cards or credit card processors.
- Other 1099 forms:If you earned interest from savings or investments, you might get a 1099-INT form. You could also get a 1099-DIV form, which tracks investment dividends and distributions. If you get a 1099-C form, you had $600 or more in debt that was canceled.
- 1098-E:This form tracks tax-deductible student loan interest payments over $600 and allows you to deduct up to $2,500 of interest on your student loans. If you paid less than $600, you may not receive a 1098-E, but if you find out what amount of interest you paid, you can still deduct it.
- 1098-T:The 1098-T is used for educational tax credits and deductions. It reports payments received for tuition and education expenses. You’ll also need to include scholarships or grants. If you need to fill this out, your school will send it to you or have it available in your student portal.
New for 2025 filing season: What to know about IRS changes
New for the 2025 filing season, the IRS will accept Forms 1040, 1040-NR and 1040-SS, even if a dependent has already been claimed on a previously filed return, as long as the primary taxpayer on the second return includes a valid IP PIN.
The IRS saidthis changewill reduce the time it takes for the agency to receive the tax return and accelerate the issuance of tax refunds for those with duplicate dependent returns.
Taxpayers who received more than $5,000 in payments for goods and services through an online marketplace or payment app in 2024 should have received aForm 1099-K PDFin January 2025. A copy of this form will be sent to the IRS, as well.
The IRS said that while it is taking aphased in approachto implementation of the Form 1099-K reporting threshold, there have been no changes to the taxability of income.
Where's my refund? How to check IRS refund status
To track your refund, you can use the IRS's "Where's my refund?" search toolor use theIRS2GO mobile app.
If you filed an amended return, the IRS has a different search tool for tracking amended returns.
You'll need your Social Security number or individual taxpayer ID number, your filing status and the exact refund amount on your return.
Here's what your tax return status means:
- Return received:Your return has been received and is being processed.
- Refund approved:Your refund has been approved and will be issued by the date shown.
- Refund sent:We sent the refund to your bank or as a check in the mail.
How long does direct deposit take for a tax return?
According tothe U.S. Department of Treasury, “Assuming no issues, IRS issues tax refunds in less than 21 calendar days after the IRS receives the tax return.” But if you chosedirect deposit,you could get it sooner.
Can I still file my taxes if I miss the deadline?
There are penalties to filing your taxes late and without an extension. TheFailure to File penaltyapplies if you don't file your tax return by the due date.
The IRS calculates thepenalty as 5% of the unpaid taxesfor each month or part of a month that a tax return is late. The penalty won't exceed 25% of your unpaid taxes.
If you're more than 60 days late to file your return, the Failure to File penalty ranges from $100 to $485.
When should I start checking my refund status?
That depends on how you filed.
The IRS will post your return status:
- 24 hours after you e-file a current-year return
- 3 or 4 days after you e-file a prior-year return
- 4 weeks after you file a paper return
The IRS updates this information once a day, overnight.
