What can happen? If the IRS owes you a refund, it can be lost forever. And if you're supposed to pay the tax agency but don't, you can face stiff penalties.
In general, it’s best to file your taxes. Here's why.
What if you don't file taxes?
If you don’t file by Tax Day, the IRS will start charging a failure-to-file penalty
If don't owe any money or if you have a refund coming, you're not required to file a tax return — but it's still a good idea.
If you miss the deadline, there are no penalties — but don't wait too long if you're owed a refund, because you've got just three years to claim it. After that, the IRS keeps the cash.
If you owe the IRS and don't submit your tax return by Tax Day — which usually falls on April 15 — you'll be charged a failure-to-file penalty starting the very next day, and it can add up to a lot of money.
The IRS will charge you 5% of your unpaid tax bill for every month — or partial month — until your return is filed. The penalty will keep growing until it hits a maximum 25% of what you owe.
If you file your return more than 60 days after it’s due, your minimum penalty jumps to either $330 or 100% of your tax bill — whichever amount is lower.
When life gets complicated and you know you won't be able to file your taxes by April 15, you can request an extension. Tax software and tax pros — both available through H&R Block, for example — make filing for an extension easy.
Just don’t forget your new due date, because missing it will incur the same penalties as missing the original date. And keep in mind that your new due date is only for filing — your tax bill is still due to be paid by deadline day.
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Learn MoreWhat if you don't pay your taxes?
If you don’t pay your tax bill, the IRS can charge a failure-to-pay penalty
If you file your taxes on time but don’t pay your tax bill by the deadline — or pay only part of it — the IRS will charge a failure-to-pay penalty.
The tax agency will ding you for 0.5% of your unpaid tax bill every month, up to a maximum of 25% of the amount due.
At the same time, interest will be charged on your unpaid taxes. The interest rate is the federal short-term rate plus 3%.
What if I can’t afford to pay my taxes?
If you can't pay your bill right away, call the IRS to arrange a payment plan
If you don't have the money to pay your tax bill immediately, you have some options.
First, you could leave only a small unpaid balance and pay as much of your taxes as possible. That way, you'd be charged far less in penalties and interest.
An alternative is to request a payment plan and cover your tax bill to the IRS in installments.
Both options beat not filing.
If you owe $5,000 on April 15 and wait six months to file and pay, your penalty will be $1,275. That's 25% of $5,000 — 5% for each month ($250) until the maximum 25% was reached after five months — for a total of $1,250. The additional $25 is the 0.5% monthly failure-to-pay penalty, which kicks in once the other charge maxes out.
But if you owe $5,000, file on time, pay $4,000 and take six months to pay the other $1,000, you'll be charged just $30 — the the 0.5% monthly failure-to-pay penalty, times six months — plus interest.
And if you owe $5,000, file on time and arrange to make installment payments, you'll be charged the 0.5% failure-to-pay on the unpaid balance each month, plus interest. There also are setup fees for payment plans that go beyond 120 days.
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Read MoreDon’t ignore your taxes
Filing taxes on your own isn’t easy — but with professional help, it can be
No matter what happens, it's best to file your taxes on time and pay your bill as soon as possible. Request an extension or a payment plan if you need some leeway.
Ignoring Tax Day is guaranteed to cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars extra — and the IRS can take more serious actions if you continue to ignore your tax obligations.
The tax agency could file a notice of a federal tax lien (a claim on your property) and could potentially seize your home or garnish your wages. The agency also can file charges of tax evasion, which is a felony.
Filing taxes on your own isn’t always easy — but with expert assistance, it can be.
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