The Tax-Filing Deadline is Drawing Near

As a reminder to those who have not yet filed their 2022 tax returns, April 18, 2023, is the due date to either file a return (and pay the taxes owed) or file for an automatic extension (and pay an estimate of the taxes owed). The due date is April 18, instead of April 15, because of the Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia – even if you don't live in DC.

NOTE: Your due date may have been automatically extended if you live in a federally declared disaster area. The extension will apply if you reside in the disaster area and need not be directly affected by the disaster to qualify. Check the IRS website at Tax Disaster Relief Situations for regions with disaster filing relief extensions. For example, taxpayers in most of California and parts of Alabama and Georgia now have until October 16, 2023, to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments. Call this office to confirm you qualify and for information related to state disaster relief due date postponements.

For those not covered by the disaster area filing postponement and needing an extension, caution should be exercised when preparing the extension application, which is IRS Form 4868. Even though this form is "automatic," the extension is automatically granted only if it includes a reasonable estimate of the 2022 tax liability and only if that anticipated liability is paid along with the extension application. It is common for taxpayers to enter zero as the estimated tax liability without figuring out the actual estimated amount. These taxpayers risk the IRS classifying their forms as improperly completed, which makes the extensions invalid. If you need an extension, don't hesitate to contact this office so we can prepare a valid extension for you.

The extension must be filed on time; at this office, we can file your extension electronically before the due date and have any amount owed withdrawn from your bank account. If you decide to mail an extension, be advised that the envelope with the extension form must be postmarked on or before the April 18 due date. However, there are inherent risks associated with dropping an extension form in a mailbox; for instance, the envelope might need to be postmarked promptly. Thus, those with tax due should mail their extension forms using registered or certified mail to avoid late-filing penalties.

In addition, the April 18 deadline also applies to the following:

• Balance-Due Payments for the 2022 Tax Year* – Be aware that Form 4868 is an extension to file, NOT an extension to pay. The IRS will assess late-payment penalties (with interest) on any balance due, even when the extension has been granted. Taxpayers who anticipate having a balance the due need to estimate this amount and include payment for that balance, either along with the extension request (as indicated above) or electronically by this firm or through the IRS website.

• Contributions to a Roth or Traditional IRA for the 2022 Tax Year* – April 18, 2023, is the last day for 2022 contributions to either a Roth or a traditional IRA. Form 4868 does not provide an extension for making IRA contributions.

• Individual Estimated Tax Payments for the First Quarter of 2023* – The first installment of the 2023 estimated tax payment is due on April 18, 2023. If you make estimated tax payments and do not file the first installment on or before April 18, 2023, then that payment is late, and you should file it as soon as possible to mitigate any penalties.

• Individual Refund Claims for the 2019 Tax Year – The regular three-year statute of limitations expires for the 2019 tax return on April 18 of this year. Thus, no refund will be granted for a 2019 return (original or amended) that is filed after April 18, 2023. Taxpayers could risk missing out on the refundable Earned Income Tax Credit, the refundable American Opportunity Tax Credit for college tuition, and the refundable child credit for the 2019 tax year if they do not file before the statute of limitations ends. Caution: The statute does not apply to balances due for unfiled 2019 returns.

*Those in specified disaster areas will have these deadlines postponed to October 16, 2023.

Please get in touch with this office regarding filing for state extensions or to see if you qualify for a disaster-related extension.

If your 2022 return is still pending because of missing information, please forward that information to this office as quickly as possible so that we can ensure that your return meets the April 18 deadline. Remember that the last week of tax season is very hectic, and your returns may not be completed in time if you wait until the last minute. If you know the missing information will be available after the April 18 deadline, please let us know as soon as possible so we can prepare an extension request.

If you still need to complete your returns, please call this office immediately so we can schedule an appointment and/or file an extension for you.