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File Your 2020 Tax Return

Federal 2020 filing is free. Supported prior-year state returns are $15.99.

Start Your 2020 Return

2020 Return at a Glance

  • Original due date: May 17, 2021 — The 2020 return due date was postponed from April 15 to May 17, 2021 (Notice 2021-21).
  • Filing method: prepare online, then print and mail
  • Refund claims: general window closed May 17, 2024 (exceptions can apply)
  • Powered by an IRS-authorized e-file provider since 1996.

Can You Still Get a 2020 Refund?

The general window to claim a 2020 refund closed on May 17, 2024. Because the 2020 due date was postponed to May 2021, the claim window ran to May 17, 2024 (IR-2024-133). Your own deadline can differ — actual filing or payment dates, granted extensions, or IRS disaster relief can change it, so check the IRS rules on refund claims before assuming a refund is lost. Filing the return can still be worthwhile or required even when no refund is available.

Authoritative rule: IRS — Time you can claim a credit or refund

How Filing a 2020 Return Works

1

Select tax year 2020

Sign in, then choose 2020 from the supported years (2016–2025).

2

Prepare the return online

Complete the federal return first, then add a state return if supported for that year.

3

Print and mail

Returns for 2020 must be printed and mailed to the IRS.

2020 Filing Questions

Yes. A 2020 federal return can still be prepared online, then printed and mailed. Federal prior-year filing is free; supported prior-year state returns are $15.99.
The general window to claim a 2020 refund closed on May 17, 2024. Because the 2020 due date was postponed to May 2021, the claim window ran to May 17, 2024 (IR-2024-133). Your own deadline can differ — actual filing or payment dates, granted extensions, or IRS disaster relief can change it, so check the IRS rules on refund claims before assuming a refund is lost. Filing the return can still be worthwhile or required even when no refund is available.
No — the IRS e-file window currently covers 2023–2025, so a 2020 return is prepared online, then printed and mailed to the IRS.
File as soon as you can — the IRS charges failure-to-file and failure-to-pay penalties plus interest that grow the longer a balance goes unfiled and unpaid. Filing stops the larger failure-to-file penalty from growing, even if you can't pay in full right away. The IRS offers payment plans for balances you can't pay at once.
If you're missing a W-2 or 1099 from 2020, request a free Wage and Income Transcript from the IRS (online at IRS.gov, or with Form 4506-T). It lists the income documents the IRS has on file for you, which is usually enough to prepare the return.

Need a different year?

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024

Or see the prior-year filing overview.

Ready to File Your 2020 Return?

Prepare your 2020 federal return free online, then print and mail it based on the rules for that year.

Start Your 2020 Return