2027 Tax Season: Key Dates and Deadlines
Key 2027 filing-season dates, from the January estimated payment to April 15 — and why an extension to file is NOT an extension to pay.
The 2027 filing season covers your 2026 income tax return, and the filers who avoid surprises in April are the ones who put the key dates on the calendar now. Whether you file a simple Form 1040 or run a partnership or an S corporation, here are the dates that matter for the 2027 season — and one distinction that is worth committing to memory before you file.
When E-Filing Opens
The IRS opens e-filing in late January each year. For the 2027 season, the exact opening date will be announced by the IRS in early January 2027 — for reference, the 2026 season opened on January 26, 2026. If you prepare your return before the system opens, your tax software or preparer will hold it and transmit it as soon as e-filing begins.
Key Dates for the 2027 Season
January 15, 2027 — the fourth and final estimated tax payment for 2026 is due. If you pay estimated taxes as a self-employed worker or business owner, this payment closes out your 2026 tax year.
Late January 2027 — e-filing is expected to open. The exact date is announced by the IRS in early January 2027, so check for the announcement before you plan to submit.
February 1, 2027 — employers must send W-2 forms to employees. Because January 31 falls on a Sunday, the deadline moves to February 1. Watch for your W-2: most filers cannot complete an accurate return without it.
March 15, 2027 — partnership returns (Form 1065) and S corporation returns (Form 1120-S) are due. Owners of these entities receive their Schedules K-1 around this date and then report that information on their personal returns.
April 15, 2027 — the big one. Individual income tax returns (Form 1040) for 2026 are due, along with any balance due. This is also the deadline to request an extension using Form 4868, and the due date for the first 2027 estimated tax payment.
October 15, 2027 — the extended filing deadline for taxpayers who requested an extension by April 15, 2027.
An Extension to File Is Not an Extension to Pay
This is the most costly misunderstanding we see. Filing Form 4868 gives you more time to submit your paperwork — it does not give you more time to pay. Any tax you owe is still due on April 15, 2027. If you file an extension but pay nothing by that date, interest and penalties begin accruing on the unpaid balance immediately. An extension makes sense when you need time to gather documents; it should almost always be paired with a good-faith payment estimate.
Plan Ahead and File With Confidence
The best time to get organized is before the season starts — not the week of the deadline. Gather your W-2s and 1099s as they arrive, note your estimated payments, and flag any life changes (a new business, a home purchase, a change in dependents) that will affect your return. If you would rather hand the calendar, the forms, and the deadlines to a professional team, contact The Queens Financial Group. We help individuals and business owners file accurately and on time — in English or Spanish — and we can start preparing your 2026 return now, so when April 15 arrives, you are already done. Reach out today and let us take tax filing off your to-do list.
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