The deadline to file your taxes in 2020 is Wednesday, April 15

Tanza Loudenback

December 10, 2019 10:08 PM

Tax Day 2020 , when your tax return is due for income earned in 2019,is Wednesday, April 15.

when are taxes due

You can file your taxes as soon as you receive your W-2 form from your employer, or 1099 forms if you're a freelancer, which must be filed and postmarked on or before January 31.
If you earned less than $69,000 in 2019, you can file your federal tax return for free .
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Taxes for income earned in 2019 will be due on Wednesday, April 15, 2020.

Last year, residents of Maine and Massachusetts had an extra two days to file their taxes because of holidays.

Taxpayers with complicated returns, or those who are just chronic procrastinators, who want to file an extension with the IRS must do so by April 15 or face interest charges and penalties.

Filing an extension is free and there are different options for individuals and businesses. Keep in mind that if you file for an extension, you're also delaying your refund .

How to file your tax return

If your income was less than $69,000 in 2019, you can file your federal tax return for free; the IRS lists 12 different tax preparers on its Free File Lookup tool , including H&R Block and TurboTax . Some companies also offer free tax filing for state returns, while others charge a fee.

In order to submit your tax return , you first need a W-2 form, or Wage and Tax Statement, from every employer you had during 2019. If you're a freelancer, you'll need 1099 forms. Employers must file and postmark these forms on or before January 31, so you should have everything you need to file your taxes by early February.

The IRS recommends electronically filing and requesting direct deposit for your refund. You'll typically get your tax refund within three weeks , rather than the standard six weeks, and it's safer than getting a check in the mail .