Filing a tax extension does not extend your Traditional or Roth IRA contribution deadline. April 15 is final. But SEP IRAs follow different rules. Here's the breakdown so you know which deadline actually applies to you.
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The most common mistake is assuming a tax filing extension also extends the IRA contribution deadline. It doesn't, for most IRA types. Here's how each account works:
| IRA Type | Deadline Without Extension | Deadline With Tax Extension | Extended? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional IRA | April 15 | April 15 (unchanged) | No |
| Roth IRA | April 15 | April 15 (unchanged) | No |
| SEP IRA | April 15 | October 15 | Yes |
| SIMPLE IRA (employee) | 30 days after month-end | 30 days after month-end | No |
| SIMPLE IRA (employer) | Tax filing deadline | Extended filing deadline | Yes |
For Traditional and Roth IRAs, the contribution deadline is April 15 of the year following the tax year you're contributing for. A tax filing extension (Form 4868) gives you until October 15 to file your return. It does not give you until October 15 to contribute.
This trips up a lot of people. They file an extension in March, assume everything is pushed to October, and miss the IRA deadline while their tax filing is still technically on time. By the time they realize the IRA deadline was separate, it's May and the 2025 contribution window is closed.
The fix is straightforward: make your IRA contribution before you file your extension, or at least before April 15. A reminder set a few days before the deadline catches this before it becomes a problem.
The SEP (Simplified Employee Pension) IRA is designed for self-employed individuals and small business owners. Its contribution deadline is tied to your business tax filing deadline, not the standard April 15 individual deadline.
If you're self-employed and haven't set up a SEP IRA yet, you can establish one and make contributions for the prior tax year up until your filing deadline (including extensions). This is one of the few retirement accounts you can open retroactively.
According to the IRS, roughly 19 million individual tax returns are filed on extension each year. A significant number of those filers have IRA accounts. The confusion between "tax filing deadline" and "IRA contribution deadline" costs eligible savers thousands in missed contributions every April.
The pattern is always the same: file extension in March, feel relieved that taxes are handled, forget that the IRA deadline doesn't move. By late April, the realization hits. Too late.
If you're the type who files an extension, the IRA reminder matters even more. Set it for early April so you contribute before the deadline, not after you remember.
No, not for Traditional or Roth IRAs. Filing a tax extension gives you until October 15 to file your return, but it does not extend the April 15 contribution deadline. SEP IRAs are the exception: the SEP contribution deadline matches your tax filing deadline, including extensions.
You can contribute for the current tax year after April 15, but not for the prior tax year. Once April 15 passes, the prior year's contribution window is permanently closed for Traditional and Roth IRAs.
If you file a tax extension, the SEP IRA contribution deadline extends to October 15 (or your extended filing deadline). Without an extension, the SEP IRA deadline is April 15, the same as other IRA types.
Employee salary deferral contributions to a SIMPLE IRA must be deposited within 30 days of the end of the month they were withheld. Employer matching or non-elective contributions are due by the business's tax filing deadline, including extensions.
Yes. SEP IRA and Roth IRA contribution limits are separate. You can max out both in the same year. The SEP limit is much higher (up to 25% of compensation or $69,000 for 2024), and the Roth limit is $7,000 ($8,000 if 50+). Different deadlines may apply if you file an extension.
This is a common mistake. If your Traditional or Roth IRA contribution deadline has already passed, that year's contribution opportunity is gone. The best next step: contribute for the current year immediately and set a reminder for next April 15.
Free. No account. Set a reminder for April 15 (or October 15 for SEP) and stop confusing your tax extension with your IRA deadline.
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