The official end of the 2024-2025 tax season passed for most U.S. taxpayers on Tuesday, April 15, but taxpayers in Florida automatically got a two-week extension, according to the IRS.

And that deadline is approaching next week.

Last year, the Internal Revenue Service announced that tax deadlines for some taxpayers in the 51 counties under a state of emergency during Hurricane Milton would automatically be pushed back to May 1, 2025.

An April 4 press release expanded that automatic extension to Florida taxpayers in all 67 counties in the state.

"The May 1, 2025, deadline applies to taxpayers affected by FEMA disaster declarations issued during 2024. These include: Taxpayers in the entire states of Alabama , Florida , Georgia , North Carolina and South Carolina ," the IRS release said .

Here's what to know about filing taxes this year and the automatic extension for Floridians , which ends Thursday, May 1.

Do Florida residents have until May 1 to file taxes?

Yes. The last day to file your taxes in Florida is Thursday, May 1, 2025.

The last day to file taxes is called Tax Day, and it always falls on April 15, unless it’s a weekend or holiday.

But Florida taxpayers had an extra couple of weeks to file this year, according to the IRS.

The extension doesn't give you more time to pay your taxes, though, just to file.

Did the IRS extend the tax deadline for Florida?

Yes. Taxpayers in the states of Florida, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina were given an extra two weeks to file. Taxpayers who were affected by natural disasters, like wildfires, in other states also benefit from the same extension.

An IRS representative told the USA TODAY Florida Network by phone on Tax Day, Tuesday, April 15, the IRS takes their cues from FEMA disaster declarations, which is why the extension is so sweeping.

You don't have to prove you were affected by last year's hurricanes to benefit from the extension; you just have to be a taxpayer in one of the affected areas.

According to the IRS's April 4 release , the entire state of Florida benefits from this automatic extension.

"Anyone who needs a tax filing extension beyond May 1, 2025, for tax year 2024 can get it, but they must request the extra time. This type of filing extension is not an extension of time to pay," the IRS said.

"Whether filed electronically or on paper, the extension will give a taxpayers until Oct. 15, 2025, to file their 2024 return."

The IRS emphasized tax payments are still due by May 1, 2025. Visit IRS.gov/extensions for details.

What documents do you need to file your taxes?

New for 2025 filing season: What to know about IRS changes

New for the 2025 filing season , the IRS will accept Forms 1040, 1040-NR and 1040-SS, even if a dependent has already been claimed on a previously filed return, as long as the primary taxpayer on the second return includes a valid IP PIN.

The IRS said this change will reduce the time it takes for the agency to receive the tax return and accelerate the issuance of tax refunds for those with duplicate dependent returns.

Taxpayers who received more than $5,000 in payments for goods and services through an online marketplace or payment app in 2024 should have received a Form 1099-K PDF in January 2025. A copy of this form will be sent to the IRS, as well.

The IRS said that while it is taking a phased in approach to implementation of the Form 1099-K reporting threshold, there have been no changes to the taxability of income.

Where's my refund? How to check IRS refund status

To track your refund, you can use the IRS's "Where's my refund?" search tool or use the IRS2GO mobile app .

If you filed an amended return, the IRS has a different search tool for tracking amended returns.

You'll need your Social Security number or individual taxpayer ID number, your filing status and the exact refund amount on your return.

How long does direct deposit take for a tax return?

According to the U.S. Department of Treasury, “Assuming no issues, IRS issues tax refunds in less than 21 calendar days after the IRS receives the tax return.” But if you chose direct deposit, you could get it sooner.

Can I still file my taxes if I miss the deadline?

There are penalties to filing your taxes late and without an extension. The Failure to File penalty applies if you don't file your tax return by the due date.

The IRS calculates the penalty as 5% of the unpaid taxes for each month or part of a month that a tax return is late. The penalty won't exceed 25% of your unpaid taxes.

If you're more than 60 days late to file your return, the Failure to File penalty ranges from $100 to $485.

When should I start checking my refund status?

That depends on how you filed.

The IRS updates this information once a day, overnight.