IRS plans to delay this year's tax filing deadline to mid-May

[Donkees]

By Kevin Liptak, Katie Lobosco, Jeanne Sahadi and Tami Luhby, CNN
March 17, 2021

Excerpt:

Democratic Reps. Bill Pascrell of New Jersey and Richard Neal of Massachusetts, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said that the new deadline would be May 17. The IRS late Wednesday put out a statement confirming the date change.
An official familiar with the plans earlier told CNN the decision was made in order to allow filers more time to navigate tax situations complicated by the coronavirus pandemic.

There has been growing bipartisan support to extend the deadline. Lawmakers, led by Pascrell along with Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Republican Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho, had urged the move, citing the pandemic.

Delays are already piling up

As of March 5, the IRS had yet to process 6.7 million of the 2020 returns that had been filed since February 12. It had processed nearly 49 million. The agency has processed about 88% of the returns it received compared with 96% on roughly the same time frame last year.

In addition to processing tax returns, the IRS is also in the process of sending out a third round of about 150 million stimulus payments. As of Wednesday, about 90 million had been sent out.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/17/politics/irs-filing-deadline-may-15/index.html

[Throck]

1. Strange

With lockdowns we had nothing but time on our hands. Filed in February.

[progree]

2. Payment of any 2020 taxes due also May 17. However 1st quarter estimated taxes still April 15

Various excerpts

IRS postpones April 15 U.S. tax deadline to May 17, CNBC, 537p ET 3/17/21

The IRS and Treasury Department will postpone the April 15 tax-filing deadline to May 17, the agencies announced Wednesday.

In addition, taxpayers can also delay payment of any money owed the IRS until May 17. If payers still need more time to submit their returns, they can request an extension (but not taxes owed) until Oct. 15 by filing Form 4868.

The extended deadline applies only to federal income returns and taxes, meaning that taxpayers will need to check to see if due dates for state taxes have been changed. Not all states follow the same filing deadline as the federal government.

Estimated quarterly payments are still due on April 15.

The IRS will provide more guidance on the extended filing season in the coming days, the tax collector said.

More, like the reasons, but nothing more on deadlines: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/17/irs-pushes-april-15-us-tax-deadline-to-may-17.html

IRS announcement, irs.gov : https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-day-for-individuals-extended-to-may-17-treasury-irs-extend-filing-and-payment-deadline

Besides the above information:

Winter storm disaster relief for Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas

Earlier this year, following the disaster declarations issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the IRS announced relief for victims of the February winter storms in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. These states have until June 15, 2021, to file various individual and business tax returns and make tax payments. This extension to May 17 does not affect the June deadline.