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tax filing deadline extension

IRS Announced Federal Tax Filing and Payment Deadline Extension

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What is the federal tax deadline? (Click here for state tax deadlines)

The federal tax filing deadline has been extended to May 17, 2021 for individual returns.  

This only applies to individual 1040 tax returns, not business tax filing deadlines or quarterly estimated tax deadlines. See 2021 quarterly estimated tax deadlines here.

Taxpayers are encouraged to file their taxes now to get their refund ASAP. 

While you now have more time to file, the sooner you do it, the sooner you will get your refund! And we know money in your pocket is more important now than ever. 

Most people receive a tax refund each year and last year the average amount was close to $3,000, for many, their largest paycheck of the year. During times like this, a $3,000 refund is much needed money. 

Also, if you didn’t get a stimulus payment or only received a partial stimulus payment, claiming the Recovery Rebate Credit by filing a tax return is the only way to get your additional money. For families that haven’t received their first and second stimulus payments this could be up to an additional $1,800 per taxpayer. 

The IRS has also extended the federal tax deadline to June 15, 2021 for residents of Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana due to severe storms. You can learn more about the tax relief available here: Texas Relief, Oklahoma Relief, and Louisiana Relief.

So here is what you need to know about the tax deadline extension announcement:

  • Do I need to file an extension to file past April 15?  No, you do not need to take any action. The May 17 extension applies to all taxpayers automatically.
  • Will the extension of the tax deadline delay my tax refund? No, the IRS expects to continue to process refunds as normal but encourages all taxpayers to file now.
  • Will the deadline for my state taxes also be extended? That depends on your state. Many may conform to the new May 17 tax deadline, but it will take some time for states to make that decision. To find out the deadline in your state, see below.
  • Does this extension apply to 2021 quarterly estimated tax payments? No, this extension does not apply to first and second quarter 2021 estimated income tax payment deadlines. Those remain April 15, 2021 and June 15, 2021. 

Does the extended deadline mean I have more time to pay? Does the extended deadline allow me to pay my balance due before May 17th?

The extension of the federal tax filing deadline also applies to 2020 tax payments. 

Taxpayers that owe money can defer federal tax payments for Tax Year 2020, interest free and penalty free until May 17. This deferment applies to all individual taxpayers. These taxpayers can defer tax year 2020 federal tax payments regardless of the amount owed until the new deadline. This only applies to individual 1040 tax returns, not business tax filings.

Deferment of federal tax payments means that if you owe money on your federal taxes, you will get more time to pay what you owe. 

  • How do I know if I qualify for the extended payment deadline? And do I need to file an extension to get it? Any individual taxpayer with a Federal Tax Payment related to their 2020 taxes can defer their tax payment, free of penalties and interest.
  • What do I do if I already filed my taxes and scheduled my payment for April 15? If you have already filed and scheduled your payment for April 15, you will need to cancel your payment and reschedule it. If you filed with TurboTax, you will need to contact the U.S. Treasury Financial Agent at 888-353-4537 to make that change. Changes to payments need to be made no later than 11:59 p.m. ET two business days prior to the scheduled payment date.
  • What if I need more time past the May 17 deadline to pay? If you need additional time, beyond May 17, you will need to file an extension. An extension will give you until October 15, 2021 to file your taxes, but you will still need to pay any taxes owed by May 17. Payments after May 17 will be subject to penalties and interest. The IRS also has installment plans available, you can find out more here

For Filing an Extension to File Past May 17

Are there any additional deadline extensions for individuals?

The IRS recently announced that individuals have until May 17 instead of April 15 to meet certain other deadlines and make an impact on their taxes as follows:

  • The deadline to make a 2020 contribution to your IRA, Health Savings Account(HSA), Archer Medical Savings Account, and Coverdell Education Savings Account
  • Automatically postpones the time for reporting and payment of the *10% additional tax on amounts includible in gross income from 2020 distributions from IRAs or workplace-based retirement plans
  • The deadline to claim 2017 unclaimed refunds

*Note, the 10% additional tax is waived on coronavirus related retirement distributions under CARES Act.

Continue to check back here for the most up to date tax deadline information and related changes as we await final IRS guidance.

State Tax Deadline Updates (Last Update: 04/15/21)

Many state tax deadlines will likely also change to May 17th. Get the latest on tax deadlines and guidance for your state below.

Alabama – May 17

Alabama has announced that the tax filing and payment deadline for individual returns will be May 17, 2021. This extension does not apply to estimated tax payments due on April 15, 2021.

Arizona – May 17 

Arizona has moved the deadline for filing and paying state individual income taxes to May 17, 2021. This extended deadline also includes Form 140PTC and Form 140ET. This deadline does not apply to first quarter tax year 2021 estimated payments, the due date for these estimated payments remains April 15, 2021.

Arkansas – May 17 

Arkansas will follow the federal deadline for filing and payment for individuals until May 17, 2021. This deadline does not apply to estimated payments or business returns.

California – May 17

California has extended the state filing and payment deadline for individuals to May 17, 2021. This extension does not apply to estimated tax payments due on April 15, 2021 or business tax returns.

Colorado – May 17

Colorado has extended its individual state income tax payment and filing deadline to May 17, 2021. Individuals will have the option to pay any 2020 income tax payments by May 17, 2021 without penalty or interest. This extension does not apply to estimated payments for the 2021 income tax year due for individuals and corporations on April 15, 2021.  This extension does not apply to business tax returns. 

Connecticut – May 17

Connecticut has extended the filing and payment deadline for Connecticut individual income tax returns to Monday, May 17th, 2021. This extension does not apply to estimated tax payments or business tax returns.

Delaware – May 17

Delaware has extended the filing and payment deadline for Delaware individual income tax returns to May 17, 2021. This extension does not apply to estimated tax payments or business tax returns.

Georgia – May 17 

Georgia has announced that they have extended the individual filing and payment deadline for the tax year 2020. This extension only applies to the 2020 tax year  individual state income tax payments and state individual income tax returns. This extension does not apply to state estimated tax payments due on April 15, 2021. These estimated tax payments are still due on April 15th. No extension has been provided for any other type of state tax (including employee withholding, sales tax, and business tax returns). 

Hawaii 

As of today, there have been no changes to the 2020 HI state tax deadlines. We will continue to keep you updated. Please check back here later for more details.  

Idaho – May 17

Idaho has extended the 2020 Idaho income tax filing deadline to May 17, 2021. This extension applies to all individual income tax returns and fiduciary returns (Form 66). Payment deadlines for individual income tax returns and fiduciary 1st quarter estimated payments have also been extended to May 17, 2021. This deadline also applies to property tax relief programs. The state corporate, partnership, and s-corporation filings have not been extended and will remain April 15, 2021.

Illinois – May 17 

Illinois has extended the individual income tax filing and payment deadline to May 17, 2021. The filing extension does not apply to estimated tax payments that are due on April 15, 2021. This extension does not apply to business tax returns.

Indiana – May 17 

Indiana has extended the deadline for individual income tax filing and payments to May 17, 2021. All other tax return filings and payment due dates remain unchanged. 

Iowa – June 1 

Iowa has extended its filing and payment deadline for individual tax returns until June 1, 2021.  This extension also includes 1st Quarter estimated payments. This extension does not apply to business tax returns. 

Kansas – May 17 

Kansas has announced that Kansas 2020 individual income tax, fiduciary income tax, and Homestead or Property tax relief refund claim filings are extended to May 17, 2021. This extension does not apply to estimated tax payments or business tax returns. 

Kentucky – May 17

Kentucky has extended the deadline for individual income tax filing and payments to May 17, 2021. Penalties, interest and additions to tax will begin to accrue on any remaining unpaid balances as of May 17, 2021. This extension only applies to individual taxpayers and does not apply to estimated tax payments or business returns.

Louisiana – June 15

The Louisiana state tax deadline has been extended to June 15. This extended due date is for individual income, corporation income and franchise, fiduciary income, partnership and partnership composite tax returns and payments with original or extended due dates on or after February 11, 2021 and before June 14, 2021. For excise, sales, severance and withholding tax returns and payments due on or after February 11, 2021 and on or before February 28, 2021 have a due date of March 31, 2021. The IRS has extended the federal tax deadline for Louisiana residents to June 15 due to the severe winter storms.

Maine – May 17 

Maine has moved the deadline for Maine individual income tax return and individual tax payments to May 17, 2021. This extension does not apply to corporate tax returns and payments and does not apply to individual and corporate estimated tax payments. These estimated payments will remain due on April 15, 2021. 

Maryland  – July 15

The new tax deadline for Maryland state residents is now July 15, 2021. The extension applies to 2020 individual, corporate, pass-through entity, and fiduciary tax returns. It also includes 1st and 2nd quarter estimated payments that are typically due one April 15, 2021 and 2nd quarter estimated payments that are typically due on June 15, 2021 now have a deadline of July 15, 2021.

Massachusetts – May 17 

Massachusetts has determined that individual personal income tax returns and payments for the 2020 tax year otherwise due on April 15, 2021 will now be due on May 17, 2021. This extension does not apply to estimated tax payments or business tax returns. 

Michigan – May 17 

Michigan has announced an extension for individual and composite state income tax returns and payments will be due on May 17, 2021. This extension is limited to the state individual and composite income tax annual return and does not apply to fiduciary return or corporate tax returns. This extension does not apply to first quarter estimated payments and payments due on April 15,  2021 will remain at that due date. This extension also does not apply to city income taxes. City income tax taxpayers should contact their respective tax administrators for information regarding their city income tax. 

Minnesota – May 17

Minnesota is allowing additional time for making 2020 state individual tax filings and payments until May 17, 2021 without any penalty and interest being applied. This grace period does not include individual estimated tax payments. This extension does not apply to business tax returns. 

Mississippi – May 17 

Mississippi will follow the federal extension to file the 2020 individual income tax returns to May 17, 2021. This extension only applies to the filing of individual income tax returns and payment of tax due. There will be no penalty and interest accrued on returns filed and payments made on or before May 17, 2021. This extension does not apply to quarterly estimated payments and payments due on April 15, 2021 will remain at that due date.

Missouri – May 17 

Missouri has announced the extension of their state individual tax filing and payment deadline for 2020 tax year to May 17, 2021. This extension applies to individual taxpayers including those who pay self-employment tax. However, the extension does not apply to estimated tax payments due on April 15, 2021 and that deadline has not changed. This extension does not apply to business tax returns. 

Montana – May 17

Montana has announced that the deadline to file 2020 Montana individual income tax returns is May 17, 2021. Montana taxpayers who file by May 17 will not have to worry about interest or penalties. This extension does not apply to quarterly estimated payments.

Nebraska – May 17

Nebraska has extended the deadline for individual income tax returns. This extension for filing and postponement of payment does not include estimated payments or business tax returns.

New Hampshire 

As of today, there have been no changes to the 2020 NH state tax deadlines. We will continue to keep you updated. Please check back here later for more details

New Jersey – May 17 

New Jersey has extended the 2020 income tax filing and due date for individuals to May 17, 2021. This extension includes any tax payments due with a return. This extension does not include first quarter estimated payments, which are still due by April 15, 2021.

New Mexico – May 17

New Mexico has extended the deadline for filing and paying 2020 New Mexico Personal Income taxes to May 17, 2021. This extension does not apply to business tax returns or estimated payments.

New York – May 17 

New York State has extended the due date for personal income tax returns and related payments for the 2020 tax year to May 17,2021. This extension is limited to personal income tax returns for individuals only. The deadline for payment or deposit of any other type of state tax or filing of any other state information return remain unchanged. This extension does not apply to estimated tax payments for the 2021 tax year that are due on April 15, 2021 still are due on April 15, 2021. This extension does not apply to business tax returns. 

North Carolina – May 17

North Carolina has extended the time for filing North Carolin individual income tax to May 17, 2021. The state will not charge penalties for those filing and paying their taxes by May 17, 2021. However, tax payments received after April 15 will be charged interest accruing from April 15 until the date of payment. This extension does not apply to trust taxes, sales and use, or withholdings taxes or estimated payments due on April 15, 2021. This extension also does not apply to business tax returns.

North Dakota – May 17 

The deadline for North Dakota individual tax return filing and payments has been extended to May 17, 2021 without penalty and interest. This extension does not apply to estimated tax payments due on April 15, 2021. This extension also does not apply to business tax returns.

Ohio – May 17

Ohio has extended the filing and payment deadline for Ohio individual income tax returns and school district income taxes for tax year 2020 to May 17, 2021. This extension does not apply to estimated tax payments or business tax returns.

Oklahoma – June 15 (Individual and Business Payments deadline)

The individual and business payments tax deadline for Oklahoma has been extended to June 15 to provide relief to those affected by the severe winter storms. This includes first quarter estimated tax payments.

The IRS has extended the federal tax deadline for Oklahoma residents to June 15 due to the severe winter storms. 

Oregon – May 17 

Oregon will follow the IRS and extended the tax filing and payment deadline for individuals to May 17. This extension does not apply to estimated tax payments or business returns.

Pennsylvania – May 17 

Pennsylvania has extended the deadline for individual income tax return filings and payments to May 17, 2021. This extension does not apply to estimated tax payments due on April 15, 2021. This extension does not apply to business returns.

Rhode Island – May 17 

Rhode Island has postponed its deadline for individuals to file their Rhode Island personal income tax returns and make related payments for the 2020 tax year to May 17, 2021. This extension does not apply to estimated payments or business tax returns. 

South Carolina – May 17 

South Carolina has extended the deadline for individual income tax return filings and payments for the 2020 tax year to May 17, 2021. This extension is only for individual tax returns and does not apply to estimated tax payments due April 15, 2021.

Tennessee – May 17 

Tennessee has announced the extension for filing and payment for Hall individual income tax returns to May 17, 2021. This extension applies for all taxpayers that file Hall individual income tax. For franchise and excise tax, the extension only applies to individuals who file a Tennessee franchise and excise tax return using a Schedule J2 – Computation of Net Earnings for a Single Member LLC Filing as an Individual. This extension does not apply to estimated payments due April 15, 2021. These estimated payments are still due on April 15. 

Texas – June 15 (franchise tax deadline)

Texas has extended the franchise tax deadline from May 15 to June 15, to provide relief to those affected by the severe winter storms. This is in line with the federal extension for Texas residents.  

Texas does not have individual state taxes.

Utah – May 17 

The due date for Utah individual income tax for tax year 2020 is May 17th. The extension of the individual filing due date has the effect of also postponing the payment due date to May 17th. Interest and penalties will not accrue if payment requirements are met by this new due date. This extension does not apply to estimated tax payments and business tax returns. 

Vermont – May 17 

Vermont has extended the deadline for taxpayers to file their 2020 personal income tax return and pay any tax owed to May 17, 2021 without any penalties or interest. This extension also applies to Homestead Declarations and Property Tax Credit Claims allowing taxpayers to file these with their personal income tax return by May 17 without penalty or interest. This extension does not apply to any estimated payments due on April 15, 2021. This extension also does not apply to business tax returns. 

Virginia – May 17 

Virginia has extended the state filing and payment deadline for individuals to May 17, 2021. THis extension does not apply to estimated tax payments or business tax returns.

Washington D.C. – May 17

The District of Columbia has extended the state filing and payment deadline for individuals to May 17, 2021. Business returns for corporate, unincorporated business tax, fiduciary and partnerships returns and payments are extended to May 17, 2021. This extension does not apply to estimated tax payments and the first quarter payments are due April 15, 2021.

West Virginia – May 17 

West Virginia extended the state filing and payment deadline for individuals to May 17, 2021. This extension does not apply to estimated tax payments or business tax returns. 

Wisconsin – May 17 

Wisconsin has extended the individual income tax return filing and payment deadline to May 17, 2021. This extension does not apply to 2021 estimated tax payments for individuals due April 15, 2021 and does not apply to any other return or tax payments due.

Katharina Reekmans

Katharina Reekmans is an Enrolled Agent and a contributor to the TurboTax Blog team. Katharina has years of experience in tax preparation and representation before the IRS. Her passions surround financial literary and tax law interpretation. She has a strong commitment to using all resources and knowledge to best serve the interest of clients. Katharina has worked as a senior tax accountant, operations manager, and controller. Katharina prides herself on unraveling tax laws so that the average person can understand them. More from Katharina Reekmans

15 responses to “IRS Announced Federal Tax Filing and Payment Deadline Extension”

    • Hi Ted,

      Yes the IRS has extended the same date for individuals to make 2020 contributions to their individual retirement arrangements by May 17, 2021.

      Hope this helps!
      Best,
      Katharina Reekmans

    • Hi Peggy,

      Sorry for the delay in response, but the IRS has officially announced that they will be extending the same May 17th deadline to 2020 IRA contributions as well.

      Hope this helps.
      Best,
      Katharina Reekmans

    • Hi Marc,
      We have updated the article to include New Jersey. New Jersey will follow the actions of the IRS and has extended 2020 individual tax filing due date to May 17, 2021.

      Hope this helps.
      Best,
      Katharina Reekmans

  1. I live in Utah. I do not see any State Tax deadline information for Utah. What do you know about the current State filing deadline for Utah?

    • Hi Bennie,

      At the moment Ohio has not provided any official updates regarding a filing extension. Please check back with this post as we continue to provide updates.

      Hope this helps.
      Best,
      Katharina Reekmans

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