IRS Extends Tax Filing Deadline to May 17

The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are extending the deadline to file 2020 federal income taxes from April 15 to May 17.

The IRS said in a statement that it will provide further guidance on the extension in the coming days. The guidance is likely to be related to tax law changes issued in the American Rescue Plan. The $1.9 trillion relief bill waives federal taxes for up to $10,200 of unemployment benefits for individual tax payers.

IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig said in a statement that the IRS continues to urge Americans to file their taxes as quickly as possible, but the extension intends to help taxpayers “navigate the unusual circumstances related to the pandemic.”

“Filing electronically with direct deposit is the quickest way to get refunds, and it can help some taxpayers more quickly receive any remaining stimulus payments they may be entitled to,” Rettig said.

#IRS and @USTreasury extend filing and payment deadline for individuals to May 17, 2021. Details at https://t.co/BAj5rvsPvy pic.twitter.com/26rGNababM

— IRSnews (@IRSnews) March 17, 2021

The change comes a day after U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md. 8)—along with more than 100 other members of Congress—sent a letter to Rettig and Mark Mazur, the acting secretary for tax policy, urging the IRS to extend the tax deadline to July 15. (Last year, amid the pandemic, the tax deadline was extended until July 15. On March 11, Comptroller Peter Franchot announced that the deadline to file Maryland state taxes is extended until July 15. )

Raskin called the May 17 extension “welcome relief,” tweeting, “I understand many constituents were hoping the federal deadline would be extended to July 15, matching Maryland’s 90-day extension for state tax filings. We’ll keep monitoring the timeline for efficacy. Contact my District Office with questions: 301-354-1000.”

I understand many constituents were hoping the federal deadline would be extended to July 15, matching Maryland’s 90-day extension for state tax filings. We’ll keep monitoring the timeline for efficacy. Contact my District Office with questions: 301-354-1000.

— Rep. Jamie Raskin (@RepRaskin) March 17, 2021

The IRS says that taxpayers who need more time beyond the May 17 deadline to file their taxes can request a filing extension until Oct. 15 by filing Form 4868.

About Deirdre Byrne

Deirdre Byrne is a social media coordinator for Montgomery Community Media. She can be reached at dbyrne@mymcmedia.org or on twitter at @DeirdreByrneMCM.

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