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File Your 2021 Tax Return

Federal 2021 filing is free. Supported prior-year state returns are $15.99.

Start Your 2021 Return

2021 Return at a Glance

  • Original due date: April 18, 2022
  • Filing method: prepare online, then print and mail
  • Refund claims: general window closed April 15, 2025 (exceptions can apply)
  • Powered by an IRS-authorized e-file provider since 1996.

Can You Still Get a 2021 Refund?

The general window to claim a 2021 refund closed on April 15, 2025. The IRS set the claim deadline at April 15, 2025 — the 2025 filing deadline. 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 2021 Return Works

1

Select tax year 2021

Sign in, then choose 2021 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 2021 must be printed and mailed to the IRS.

2021 Filing Questions

Yes. A 2021 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 2021 refund closed on April 15, 2025. The IRS set the claim deadline at April 15, 2025 — the 2025 filing deadline. 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 2021 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 2021, 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 2021 Return?

Prepare your 2021 federal return free online, then print and mail it based on the rules for that year.

Start Your 2021 Return