Important Dates and Filing Deadlines for 2011 Federal Tax Returns

Unless otherwise indicated, deadlines are at 11:59:59 P.M. (one second before midnight) local time for the date given.

May 31, 2012

• Deadline for qualified taxpayers in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia to file and pay due to disaster relief. More info

October 15, 2012

• Final deadline to mail your 2011 return if you filed an extension and have chosen not to e-file.
• Final deadline to e-file your 2011 return if you filed an extension.

October 19, 2012

• Final deadline to resubmit a rejected 2011 return that was originally e-filed on or before October 15.

April 22, 2012

• (7:00 am Pacific) Deadline for resubmitting or mailing a previously rejected e-filed federal return that was originally e-filed by the April 17 deadline if you did not file an extension.
  • Important! 7:00 am Pacific is the new cutoff time, per the IRS. Formerly, it was 11:59 pm.
• (8:00 am Pacific) Deadline for resubmitting or mailing a previously rejected extension that was originally e-filed by the April 17 deadline.

April 17, 2012

• Deadline for filing a 2011 tax return or extension. More info
• The return or extension must be postmarked or transmitted for e-filing by Tuesday, April 17, 2012.
• To avoid late payment penalties and interest, any additional taxes you owe must be paid by this date even if you filed an extension.
• Note: Qualified taxpayers in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia have until May 31 to file and pay due to disaster relief. More info

January 17, 2012

• IRS begins processing previously stockpiled returns at 9 A.M. Eastern time (note new time).
  • Note: Due to the enormous backlog of returns waiting to be processed, this does not imply that the IRS will process your return at 9 A.M. Eastern time.
• If you e-filed on or before January 17, please allow up to 72 hours to receive an acknowledgement. More info
• Once the IRS has worked through the backlog, they will process all other incoming returns.

January 4, 2012

• The Intuit Electronic Filing Center begins accepting and holding ("stockpiling") 2011 tax returns.
• The IRS will not start processing stockpiled returns until the morning of January 17.