Hit the Panic Button: You Missed the Tax Deadline
This Week's Quote:
“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.”
-Helen Keller, Author
Most would agree that paying your taxes is not a fun activity (except maybe us accountants). However, everyone can agree that missing the deadline to do them is not a fun prospect at all. The people who want your taxes, the IRS, have ways to ensure you are able to pay and offer avenues for avoiding penalties depending on your circumstances. However, even if you manage to dodge the penalties, you should always pay your taxes as soon as possible, as the longer you wait the worse things can get.
-Zak Kitzmiller
What someone should do if they missed the April deadline to file and pay taxes
The federal income tax deadline has passed for most individual taxpayers. However, some haven't filed their 2021 tax returns or paid their tax due.
Some people may choose not to file a tax return because they didn't earn enough money to be required to file. Generally, they won't receive a penalty if they are owed a refund. However, they may miss out on receiving a refund.
On the other hand, tax owed and not paid by April 18, 2022, is subject to penalties and interest. Taxpayers in Maine and Massachusetts had until April 19 to file and pay due to the Patriots' Day holiday in those states.
Anyone who didn't file and owes tax should file a return as soon as they can and pay as much as they can to reduce penalties and interest. Electronic filing options, including IRS Free File, are still available on IRS.gov through October 17, 2022, to prepare and file returns electronically.
The military community can also file their taxes using MilTax, a free tax resource offered through the Department of Defense. Eligible taxpayers can use MilTax to electronically file a federal tax return and up to three state returns for free.
If taxpayers find that they owe taxes, they can review their available payment options. The IRS has information for taxpayers who can't pay taxes they owe.
Some taxpayers may have extra time to file their tax returns and pay any taxes due. This includes some disaster victims, taxpayers living overseas, certain military service members and eligible support personnel in combat zones.
Filing soon is very important because the late-filing and late-payment penalties and interest on unpaid taxes add up quickly. However, in some cases, a taxpayer filing after the deadline may qualify for penalty relief. For those charged a penalty, they may contact the IRS by calling the number on their notice and explain why they couldn't file and pay on time.
Taxpayers who have a history of filing and paying on time often qualify for administrative penalty relief. A taxpayer usually qualifies if they have filed and paid timely for the past three years and meet other requirements. For details, taxpayers should visit the first-time penalty abatement page on IRS.gov.
Credit goes to the Internal Revenue Service. Published April 20, 2022 on the IRS Website
Thank you for all of your questions, comments and suggestions for future topics. As always, they are much appreciated. We also welcome and appreciate anyone who wishes to write a Tax Tip of the Week for our consideration. We may be reached in our Dayton office at 937-436-3133 or in our Xenia office at 937-372-3504. Or, visit our website.
This Week’s Author, Zak Kitzmiller
-until next week.
