The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reminded Taxpayers of the April 15 tax filing and payment deadline. If you are not in a disaster area, a combat zone or are living and working abroad, you are obligated to pay income taxes on April 15. If you do not pay your taxes on that date, you could be subject to interest and penalties.

Taxpayers should be certain to file by April 15, 2025. If you do not file, there is a late filing penalty that could be up to 5% per month on your unpaid tax amount.

If you are unable to pay in full, you should pay as much as possible by April 15. This payment will reduce the interest and tax penalty amounts. The current interest rate is 7% per year and the penalty rate is normally one-half of 1% per month. The IRS reminds Taxpayers that extending the filing date until October 15, 2025, does not extend the deadline to pay tax.

There are four basic plan options for individuals who are not able to pay taxes on April 15, 2025. These include a short-term and long-term plan, an offer in compromise and a temporary delay in payment.

1. Short Term Plan — If your tax balance is less than $100,000, you may have up to 180 days to pay the balance in full.
2. Long Term Plan — A long-term payment plan may be possible if you owe less than $50,000 in tax, penalties and interest. This plan typically involves monthly payments for as long as 10 years. The IRS suggests that Taxpayers should simplify the process by using an automatic bank withdrawal each month. The longer payment plan, however, will increase your interest and penalties.
3. Offer in Compromise — Some Taxpayers may qualify for a reduced tax amount. You may check if this option is available with the Offer in Compromise Pre-Qualifier tool on IRS.gov. By entering the required information, you can understand whether or not you may qualify for a reduced payment.
4. Temporary Delay — Taxpayers who are experiencing serious financial hardships may ask the IRS to delay the collection process. If the IRS determines there are major financial issues and the Taxpayer is unable to pay, the IRS may grant a delay in payment. The IRS will assess interest and penalties until the payment is completed.

The IRS reminds Taxpayers who are unable to make full payment that they are more vulnerable to fraudsters. The IRS does not call, text or contact individuals to demand immediate tax payment. The normal IRS collection process starts with a bill or letter that explains the tax obligation and how Taxpayers may question or appeal that amount.

Published April 4, 2025