Don’t Miss April 15: 2026 Tax Deadline Penalties, NJ Refund Waits, and PA Free Filing Help

WASHINGTON, Feb 11, 2026, 04:17 (EST)

• Federal tax returns for 2025 hit their deadline on April 15, 2026. Anyone needing more time can file for an extension, stretching the timeline out to Oct. 15, though any taxes owed still have to be paid in April.
• The IRS typically issues most refunds in less than 21 days, but those claiming EITC or ACTC could be waiting until early March for their money.
• New Jersey is telling filers to expect at least four weeks for e-filed state refund processing, or 12 weeks or longer if returns are mailed in. Certain credits may tack on extra time.

For those filing 2025 tax returns, April 15, 2026, is the federal cutoff. State deadlines and advisories are stacking up, too. The guidance remains: file early, file accurately, and steer clear of relying on slow-moving paper forms.

The Internal Revenue Service began accepting 2026 tax returns on Jan. 26, bracing for around 164 million filings ahead of the April 15 deadline. IRS Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Bisignano is urging filers to use e-file and direct deposit, aiming to “speed the processing” of returns and get refunds out faster. The IRS says it’s winding down paper refund checks. For filers claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC), most refunds should arrive by March 2, with some early birds seeing direct deposits as soon as Feb. 21. 1

Tax season brings a familiar scramble: according to Investment Property Exchange Services, over 31% of employees confess to putting off their returns. The IRS does have options for procrastinators, outlining that extensions can push the deadline out to Oct. 15, but only if you file for it by April 15. 2

Miss your filing deadline and you’re looking at steep costs. The IRS imposes a 5% penalty per month on unpaid tax for late filers—capping out at 25%—and if your return, due after Dec. 31, 2025, is over 60 days late, expect at least a $525 hit. Not paying? That’s a 0.5% monthly penalty, also maxed at 25%. https://www.irs.gov/payments/failure-to-file-penalty 3

New Jersey’s online filing platform flags April 15, 2026 as the deadline for residents to electronically submit or postmark payments to avoid penalties and interest. The site touts itself as a no-cost option, in contrast to paid filing services. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/jersey-income-taxes-due-2026-160555854.html 4

New Jersey filers know the wait for refunds can drag on. According to the New Jersey Division of Taxation, any return submitted after Jan. 26, 2026, faces a processing time of “4 weeks or more” if filed electronically. Mailing it in? That jumps to at least 12 weeks, and could stretch to 15 weeks or longer if you’re dealing with extra processing or using certified mail. If your refund involves the New Jersey Earned Income Tax Credit (NJEITC)—the state’s answer to the federal EITC—it could take even longer. 5

Pennsylvania taxpayers face the same April 15 federal deadline this year. Some households can tap free prep through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program or, for those over 60, the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) service—often coordinated by the AARP Foundation’s Tax-Aide. National Taxpayer Advocate Erin M. Collins, in her annual report to Congress, flagged several hurdles this season: “The IRS is simultaneously confronting a reduction of 27% of its workforce, leadership turnover, and the implementation of extensive and complex tax law changes,” she wrote. 6

This year, the main headache is delay—not just holding up refunds, but also stalling fixes if problems crop up. Paper returns, missing bank info, or anything that flags an extra review can easily stretch the wait far beyond what filers count on, especially as that April 15 rush hits.