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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Tax Filing Delayed Until July 15—Should I Wait or File Now?
The COVID-19 pandemic has shut down a lot of business in the United States.
The IRS decided to use its authority in a national emergency to postpone certain tax return filings and payments. This change affects every one of you, and the rules are tricky—after all, this is tax law.
We’ll explain who gets relief; what the IRS delayed; and probably more importantly, what wasn’t delayed. We’ll also tell you whether you should file regardless of the postponement.
Who Qualifies?
First, to qualify for postponement, you must have a tax return that is due on April 15, 2020. In general, the returns due on April 15 include the following:
1.) An individual filing a Form 1040 series return.
2.) A trust or estate filing Form 1041.
3.) A partnership filing Form 1065.
4.) A corporation filing a Form 1120 series return.
In its FAQ, the IRS did not include the Form 1065 for partnerships or the Form 1120S for S corporations when it listed the forms available for relief.
That’s because most partnerships and S corporations have calendar-year returns, making the 2019tax return due March 15, 2020. But if you have a fiscal-year partnership or S corporation with a due date of April 15, 2020, it should qualify for relief under the official guidance.
Second, you must have one of the following due on April 15, 2020:
1.) Tax year 2019 federal income tax return.
2.) Tax year 2019 federal income tax payment.
3.) Tax year 2020 federal estimated income tax payment.
This grant of relief does not apply to federal payroll taxes, including federal tax deposits, and federal information returns.
Federal Tax Return Filing Deadline
If you qualify for relief, your 2019 federal income tax return is now due July 15, 2020. You do not have to file an extension on Form 4868 or Form 7004 or contact the IRS to get the automatic postponement to July 15, 2020.
If you need additional time beyond July 15, 2020, to file your tax return, you can file Form 4868 or Form 7004 on or before July 15, 2020, and get an automatic extension to your normal extension due date:
September 30 for Form 1041.
October 15 for Forms 1040 and 1120.
IRA, HSA, and Retirement Plan Payments.
The COVID-19 grant of relief also postpones the following payment deadlines until July 15, 2020:
2019 individual retirement account (IRA).
2019 health savings account (HSA).
2019 employer qualified retirement plan.
Should You Wait?
If your tax return shows a refund, file it as soon as possible—get your cash as quickly as you can.
If you have the cash and liquidity to make your tax payments on April 15, 2020, but keeping those payments in your bank account earns extra interest income, we see no reason you shouldn’t delay until July 15, 2020.
If you have problems with making timely estimated tax payments, we recommend you keep the normal schedule as long as you have the liquidity and cash to make the payments. We don’t want you to fall into bad habits and possibly create an unpayable balance due on your 2020 tax return.
Final Thoughts
Because of the COVID-19 emergency, the IRS provided you filing and payment relief for certain income tax returns and payments due on or after April 1, 2020 and before July 15, 2020. Those tax returns and payments are now delayed and due instead on July 15, 2020.
Also, the IRA, HSA, and retirement contributions otherwise due on April 15 are now due on July 15.
Remember—if you have a refund, there’s no reason to wait to file your tax return. File your return as soon as possible and put the money in your pocket.
Even if you have the cash and liquidity to make your postponed tax payments now, there is no reason to do so—hold on to the money for interest and to help your cash reserves during uncertain times.[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”1431″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
