Most taxpayers must file federal income tax returns by April 15. However, there are some exceptions to the familiar tax filing deadline. Getty Images By Rocky Mengle, Tax Editor January 8, 2019 Most Americans must file their federal tax returns for 2018 by April 15, 2019. Note that we say "most Americans." Taxpayers in two states have until April 17 to file their 2018 tax returns. Here's why residents of those states get two extra days to submit their 1040s to the IRS.SEE ALSO: 18 IRS Audit Red Flags Patriots' Day, an official holiday in Maine and Massachusetts that commemorates Revolutionary War battles, falls on April 15 this year. Normally, residents of those two states would get an extra day to file taxes. However, April 16 is Emancipation Day in the District of Columbia. The holiday honors the end of slavery in Washington, D.C. Since April 16 is a legal holiday in D.C., and the IRS can't require that tax returns be filed on a legal holiday, taxpayers in Maine and Massachusetts get yet another extra day to file. Got it? No matter which state you live in, if for some reason you can't file your federal tax return on time, you can get an automatic six-month extension if you file IRS Form 4868 before April 15 (or April 17 if you live in Maine or Massachusetts). You can also get an automatic extension by making an electronic tax payment by the due date. SEE ALSO: 20 Most Overlooked Tax Deductions Keep in mind, however, that an extension to file doesn't extend the time to pay your tax. If you don't pay up by the original due date, you'll owe interest on the unpaid tax. You could also be hit with additional penalties for filing and paying late. By the way, the earliest you can file your taxes in 2019 is January 28. That's when the IRS begins processing 2018 tax returns. Show comments