1040 IRS filing deadlines and electronic filing information
Electronic filing opening day information and information about relevant due dates for 1040 returns
The Modernized e-File (MeF) System is available daily, except during maintenance and down times. Refer to the IRS Modernized e-File (MeF) Status page for down times.
All deadlines are 11:59:59 pm local time. The time zone is based on the location of the preparer and the e-file is time-stamped with the time it's received by Thomson Reuters. We recommend that preparers transmit electronic files to Thomson Reuters at least 1 hour before the filing deadline.
Date | Event |
|---|---|
1/26/2026 | The IRS begins accepting Form 1040 electronic tax returns. |
4/15/2026 | Due date to electronically transmit Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR), to FinCEN. |
4/15/2026 | Due date to timely file 1040 returns and Form 4868 extensions. |
4/20/2026 | Due date to timely file corrected 1040 returns and Form 4868 extensions that were previously rejected. |
10/15/2026 | Final due date to timely file 1040 returns on extension. |
10/15/2026 | The last day to electronically transmit timely filed Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR), to FinCEN on automatic extension. |
10/20/2026 | The last day to retransmit previously rejected timely filed electronic 1040 returns. |
note
Form 114, Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) returns receive an automatic extension of 6 months to file. The last day to timely file an FBAR is 10/15/2025.
Grace periods
- If you can't file a return electronically, you'll need to file the paper return by the return due date or 10 calendar days after the IRS rejected the return.
- The grace period begins at the time of the rejection and is never extended for weekends, holidays, or end of year cutoff.
- The grace period doesn't extend past the last day to retransmit rejected timely filed returns.
- The IRS considers returns that are re-filed within the grace period to be timely filed returns.
