Penalties for Filing Your Tax Return Late

Stiff penalties await those who didn't file their return (or pay any tax owed) by the tax filing deadline.

stacked blocks with the words tax penalty
(Image credit: Getty Images)

We normally "celebrate" Tax Day on April 15, but it was April 18 this year for most people because the 15th fell on a weekend. If you knew you weren't going to be able to file your 2022 federal income tax return in time, you could have requested an extension to file your return until October 16 (but you still had to pay the tax you expect to owe by your original due date).

But, of course, some people missed the Tax Day deadline and didn't request an extension. And, as you might guess, the IRS doesn't take that lightly and will make you pay a price. If you're curious about what punishment the IRS is going to bring down on you, here's a glimpse of the interest and penalties you may face if you didn't act before the tax deadline.

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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.