AI-assisted summary
• The 2025 tax season deadline for Americans to file is April 15.
• Taxpayers who earned more than $5,000 on payment apps in 2024 will receive a new 1099-K form.
• The IRS began accepting tax filings in late January in previous years.

A new year can mean many new, exciting things. But it also means that tax season is just around the corner.

Soon Americans will have to do the yearly task of filing their tax returns for the previous year. For some, it's a walk in the park, but for many others, it can be overwhelming and stressful.

The tax code for 2025 has some changes that are noteworthy for Americans that could impact the size of their tax refund, and possibly the size of their headache.

Here is what you need to know about the 2025 tax filing season.

When does the 2025 tax season start?

Tax season typically starts around the end of January.

Holiday deals: Shop this season’s top products and sales curated by our editors.

But that does not mean you can’t get started on your tax filing now. The Internal Revenue Service opens up its tax software before the start of tax season to allow people to begin preparing their returns. The IRS has also published a list of tips to help make the tax filing process easier. 

When is the 2025 tax deadline?

According to the IRS, this year's deadline will fall on the traditional date of April 15.

When has tax season started in past years?

IRS records show that tax filing season has normally started in the last week of January, here is a list of start dates for the past 10 years.

• 2024: Jan. 29
• 2023: Jan. 23
• 2022: Jan. 24
• 2021: Feb. 12
• 2020: Jan. 31
• 2019: Feb. 2
• 2018: Feb. 2
• 2017: Jan. 27
• 2016: Feb. 2
• 2015: Jan. 30

What changes are in place for the 2025 tax code?

In 2025 taxpayers who have received more than $5,000 through online marketplaces or payment apps like Venmo, Zelle, Google Wallet, or other services will get a new form called the 1099-K.

According to the IRS, the form is only sent to people who use the payment apps for selling goods or providing services. 

“However, it could also include casual sellers who sold personal stuff like clothing, furniture and other household items that they paid more than they sold it for,” the IRS said.

What is the deadline to file an extension?

The IRS says the deadline to file for an extension is April 15. That gives taxpayers until Oct. 15 to file without penalties.

But, taxpayers must still pay any taxes owed by the April 15 deadline as the extension only applies to filing a tax return.

For people affected by natural disasters, the extension is automatically given.

How can I request an extension for a tax return?

Extension requests can be done through the IRS at no charge. The IRS will ask for basic information like your name, address, Social Security number, estimated tax liability, and payment if you owe anything.

Regardless of income, individual tax filers can use IRS Free File to request an extension electronically. If you prefer to mail a paper version of the extension, called form 4868, make sure it's postmarked no later than April 15.

What happens if I miss the tax deadline?

For people who forget or miss the deadline altogether, the standard penalty is 5% of the tax due for every month the return is late, up to 25% of the unpaid balance.

A smaller penalty of 0.5% is added if you file a return but fail to pay any taxes you owe, or if you get an extension on your return but fail to pay your owed taxes.

How many people file their taxes every year?

More than 163 million tax returns were received in 2024, a 0.9% increase compared to 2023, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Contributing: James Powel, Emily DeLetter

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.