The 2020 tax season is underway, but millions of Americans have yet to start preparing their tax returns. Earlier this week, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin offered taxpayers a 90-day reprieve on paying their income taxes.
As of Friday, March 20, the deadline to file tax returns has also been extended by three months. Taxpayers will now have until July 15th to file and pay their 2019 income taxes (up to $1 million). During this time, filers will not incur interest on unpaid taxes or be subject to tax filing penalties. According to Wealth Management, “this reprieve amount would also likely apply to small businesses and pass-through entities. Corporate filers, on the other hand, would get the same length of time to pay amounts due on up to $10 million in taxes owed.” As details continue to be hammered out, tax advisors and estate planning attorneys should expect questions from clients as the new tax filing deadline approaches.
Historically, taxpayers procrastinate on their taxes, but it is prudent to prepare tax returns well in advance. In 2018, it was estimated that over 14 million people waited until the last day to file their returns, causing the IRS website and filing system to crash in the early morning hours. The situation was not resolved until early evening, and although the IRS extended the filing deadline, panic ensued for many taxpayers who had waited until the last day to file.
Despite the 3-month tax filing extension, taxpayers may again put off filing their taxes— especially as COVID-19 continues to interrupt daily life and cause financial strain.
Do you have questions about this? Need guidance in interpreting these new rules and/or understanding the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (which is still quite new)?
I have prepared two tax “cheat sheets” one for personal federal filings and geared to small businesses owners. If you would like a copy, please contact us and let us know which cheat sheet you’d like, and we can email it over!
-by Tiffany Ballenger Floyd, © 2020, Phillips Ballenger, PLLC
Photo by The New York Public Library on Unsplash