9 States Where You Can File Your State Tax Return After April 15

(Image credit: Getty Images)

You probably already know that most Americans have to file their 2018 federal tax return by April 15, 2019 (as we told you earlier), but do you know when your state tax return is due?

For most states with an income tax (there are nine states with no income tax), the state return is also due on April 15 this year. However, some states give you more time to file — up to an additional month in Louisiana, for instance. States’ filing deadlines may depend on how you file or pay your taxes, so pay close attention to the rules.

We recommend filing both federal and state returns at the same time – and as early as possible. State returns typically “piggyback” off the federal return, so it’s usually easier to do them at the same time. There’s also a better chance of avoiding discrepancies if you do them together. Plus, you’ll usually get any refund quicker and avoid tax identity theft problems if you file early.

However, we know there are procrastinators out there who will wait until the last minute to file their taxes. (And if you owe money to your state, why cough it up any sooner than necessary?) If you’re one of those people, having a couple of extra days, or weeks, to file your state return can help. It gives you more time to focus on getting your federal return off before the April 15 deadline and then to get your state return just right. Remember, it may take a little longer to work through your returns this year as you figure out the new tax rules.

If you still can’t file your state return by the due date, you can probably get a filing extension, but you’ll have to pay the tax owed (or at least most of it) by the original due date.

Here are the 9 states where the filing deadline for 2018 returns is after April 15, 2019 (from earliest due date to latest). Take a look.

Rocky Mengle

Rocky Mengle was a Senior Tax Editor for Kiplinger from October 2018 to January 2023 with more than 20 years of experience covering federal and state tax developments. Before coming to Kiplinger, Rocky worked for Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting, and Kleinrock Publishing, where he provided breaking news and guidance for CPAs, tax attorneys, and other tax professionals. He has also been quoted as an expert by USA Today, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report, Reuters, Accounting Today, and other media outlets. Rocky holds a law degree from the University of Connecticut and a B.A. in History from Salisbury University.