When was the last day to file your taxes? Most Americans must file their federal income tax returns for the 2021 tax year by April 18, 2022. Please take into consideration that we mentioned "most Americans." The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) accepted 1040 tax returns from taxpayers in two states until April 19. In addition, victims of some natural disasters are granted additional time to file their claims, with the exact deadlines differing depending on when the event occurred.
If you could not file your federal tax return by the deadline, you should have sought an automatic tax extension of six months to October 17, 2022, by completing Form 4868 or making electronic tax payment. If you do not do either, you will not be eligible for the extension. You were required to take action before the initial due date for your return, regardless of whether that date was April 18 or 19, to be eligible for the extension.
Bear in mind that requesting an extension to file your tax return gives you less time to pay your tax bill. If you miss the deadline for making your payment, you will be responsible for paying interest on the unpaid tax, and you may also be subject to extra penalties for paying and filing late.
It is important to remember that specific tax extension rules apply to Americans residing outside the United States and persons now serving (or previously serving) in a conflict zone or crisis operation. Consequently, they may be granted more time beyond April 18 to file their tax return for 2021 and pay any tax they are anticipated to owe, and they may also be granted an extension beyond October 17.
Why Is The Deadline For Paying Taxes April 18 Rather Than April 15 This Year?
April 15 is traditionally marked as Tax Day. On the other hand, if a tax deadline occurs on a weekend day or a holiday, it will be moved to the next available working day after the holiday or weekend. Because April 15 fell on a Friday this year, the regulation regarding the weekend did not apply. On the other hand, April 15 was commemorated as Emancipation Day in the District of Columbia.
This holiday celebrates the abolition of slavery in Washington, D.C. The Internal Revenue Service could not enforce its deadline for filing tax returns on April 15 because it was a holiday in the District of Columbia. The next business day after April 17 was April 18, so that date became the deadline for most taxpayers to file their federal income tax returns for this year.
Tax Day for Maine and Massachusetts Residents
This year, the deadline for filing federal income tax returns has been extended until April 19 for those living in Maine and Massachusetts. Why? Because April 18 falls on Patriots Day, official holiday in the states of Massachusetts and Maine that honors the victories of the American Revolutionary War, in this year's calendar.
As a result, for the same reason that Tax Day was extended from April 15 to April 18 for the majority of people (i.e., a local holiday), the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was unable to set the deadline for taxpayers in those two states to file their taxes and make their payments on April 18. Consequently, the deadline was delayed to April 19, the following working day for those living in Maine and Massachusetts.
Tax Extensions
When FEMA deems an area to be a disaster area in the aftermath of a natural catastrophe, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will often provide victims of the disaster with tax relief in the form of filing and payment extensions for their taxes. Due to recent natural disasters, the deadline for filing tax returns and making tax payments, originally set for April 18 (or April 19), has been extended for people and enterprises residing in or situated in the disaster region.
State Tax Return Due Dates
Remember that you most likely need to file a state tax return unless you reside in a state that does not impose an income tax. Most states align the deadline for filing state income tax returns with the date by which federal taxes must be paid; however, there are a few states whose deadlines are different (e.g., Maryland returns are due July 15 this year). State tax filing extension regulations may differ from federal tax filing extension requirements.
