The federal income tax deadline for most individual taxpayers is behind us, but there are many people who have not filed their 2021 tax returns or paid their tax due yet. Tax owed and not paid by April 18, 2022, is subject to penalties and interest. If you have not filed and owe tax, you should file your return as soon as you can and pay as much as you can to reduce penalties and interest. It is worth noting that taxpayers in Maine and Massachusetts had until April 19 to file and pay, due to Patriot’s Day holiday observed in those states.
Some taxpayers may have extra time to file their tax returns and pay any tax due; these include:
- Some disaster victims
- Taxpayers living overseas
- Certain military members
- Eligible support personnel in combat zones
Filing soon is very important, as the late-filing and late-payment penalties and interest on unpaid taxes add up quickly. In some instances, taxpayers filing and paying after the deadline, may qualify for penalty relief. If you are charged with a penalty, you may contact the IRS by calling the number on your notice and explain why you couldn’t file and pay on time. Taxpayers with a history of filing and paying on time often qualify for penalty relief. Taxpayers who have filed and paid timely for the past three years and meet other requirements, usually qualify.
