The dates
April 15, 2026 is the federal deadline for most individual returns and for the first 2026 estimated-tax payment. If you can't file by then, request an extension on Form 4868 — it gives you until October 15, 2026 to file, but does not extend your time to pay. Calculate and pay any expected balance with the extension to avoid late-payment penalties and interest.
Inflation-adjusted brackets and standard deductions
The standard deduction for tax year 2025 is $15,750 for single filers, $31,500 for married filing jointly, and $23,625 for head of household. Bracket thresholds rose approximately 7.9% from 2024. If you're close to a bracket boundary, marginal-rate decisions (e.g. whether to make a deductible IRA contribution) shift slightly compared to last year — but the underlying math is unchanged.
Retirement contribution limits
401(k) employee elective deferrals: $23,500 for 2025, with an additional $7,500 catch-up for age 50+. Starting from 2025 special “super catch-up” rules allow ages 60–63 to contribute up to $11,250 extra in 401(k)s. This rule is optional for employers, meaning plans must specifically adopt it. Traditional and Roth IRAs: $7,000 ($8,000 with catch-up). Solo 401(k) total contributions can reach $70,000 ($77,500 with catch-up) for self-employed owners with high earnings. Contributions for 2025 can be made up to the filing deadline — earlier is better, but the cutoff is April 15, 2026, not December 31.
What's still on the table before you file
Three moves still available: (1) Traditional or Roth IRA contributions for 2025, by April 15. (2) HSA contributions for 2025 if you had eligible high-deductible coverage. (3) SEP-IRA or Solo 401(k) employer contributions for 2025 (Solo 401(k) employee elections needed to be in place by Dec 31; the employer side can extend with the return. Beyond that, most decisions are locked once the calendar is turned over.
If you owe more than expected
Filing on time and paying as much as you can is almost always better than the alternatives. The IRS will set up a payment plan; penalties for late filing are an order of magnitude worse than penalties for late paying. We can help you apply for an Installment agreement with the IRS. If you're facing a surprise this year, talk to us about safe-harbor estimates so next April is calmer.