Do you have to file your taxes by April 15 if you are getting a refund?

As a calendar year individual taxpayer filing a 1040 federal income tax return and you do NOT have any income tax liability or OWE any income taxes on your correctly completed income tax return the final date to file electronically online would be October 15 2010.

If you fail to file the 2009 income tax return to claim the refund amount before April 15 2013 the refund amount will be lost and no longer available to you.