In addition to previously granted automatic extensions of time to file and pay, the IRS yesterday granted additional, broad relief in response to coronavirus. Notice 2020-23, applies to all taxpayers that have a filing or payment deadline on or after April 1, 2020, and before July 15, 2020. This includes individuals, trusts, estates, corporations, and other non-corporate tax filers. The period will be disregarded by the IRS in calculating any interest, penalty, or addition to tax for failure to file the forms specified in the notice.
The following is a running list of extended deadlines for federal taxes. This list will be updated as changes occur.
Estimated taxes: The June 15 deadline for estimated tax payments has been pushed to July 15.
Unclaimed 2016 refunds: The deadline for filing a 2016 tax return to claim a refund, normally April 15, is extended to July 15. The return must be postmarked by July 15.
Installment payments under Sec. 965(h): Installment payments of the Sec. 965 transition tax due on or after April 1, 2020, and before July 15, 2020, are postponed to July 15, 2020.
American citizens living abroad: Americans who live and work abroad can now wait until July 15, 2020, to file their 2019 federal income tax return and pay any tax due.
Specified forms: Federal tax forms and payments covered by the relief include:
In addition, and because the current pandemic has made it difficult for IRS employees, taxpayers, and others to work due to office closures and/or restricted activities, the notice also gives the IRS additional time to perform certain time-sensitive acts, like audits. The IRS is giving itself an extra 30 days to perform these time-sensitive acts if the last date for performance is on or after April 6, 2020, and before July 15, 2020. Affected taxpayers include those under examination, those with cases with the Independent Office of Appeals, and those who submit amended returns or submit payments with respect to a tax for which the assessment period would expire on or after April 6, 2020, and before July 15, 2020.
The IRS earlier provided filing and payment relief in Notice 2020-18, but that relief had applied only to federal income tax returns and payments (including self-employment tax payments) due April 15, 2020, for 2019 tax years, and to estimated income tax payments due April 15, 2020, for 2020 tax years.
Please continue to reference this list for updates, and reach out to us with questions, as always.