WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced that the federal income tax filing due date is automatically extended from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020.
Taxpayers can also defer federal income tax payments due on April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This deferment applies to all taxpayers, including individuals, trusts and estates, corporations and other non-corporate tax filers as well as those who pay self-employment tax.
Taxpayers do not need to file any additional forms or call the IRS to qualify for this automatic federal tax filing and payment relief. Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file beyond the July 15 deadline, can request a filing extension by filing Form 4868 through their tax professional, tax software or using the Free File link on IRS.gov. Businesses who need additional time must file Form 7004.
The IRS urges taxpayers who are due a refund to file as soon as possible. Most tax refunds are still being issued within 21 days.
“Even with the filing deadline extended, we urge taxpayers who are owed refunds to file as soon as possible and file electronically,” said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig. “Filing electronically with direct deposit is the quickest way to get refunds. Although we are curtailing some operations during this period, the IRS is continuing with mission-critical operations to support the nation, and that includes accepting tax returns and sending refunds. As a federal agency vital to the overall operations of our country, we ask for your personal support, your understanding – and your patience. I’m incredibly proud of our employees as we navigate through numerous different challenges in this very rapidly changing environment.”
The IRS will continue to monitor issues related to the COVID-19 virus, and updated information will be posted on a special coronavirus page on IRS.gov.
At the direction of Governor Andy Beshear, the Kentucky Department of Revenue will adopt most of the COVID-19 income tax relief described in recent Internal Revenue Service Notice 2020-18.
This includes:
- Extending the 2019 Kentucky income tax return filing due date from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020.
- Late filing penalties will be waived for 2019 Kentucky income returns that are filed by July 15, 2020.
- Kentucky income tax payments due on April 15, 2020, are deferred for 90 days to July 15, 2020.
- Late payment penalties will be waived for income tax payments deferred from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. However, interest still applies to the deferred income tax payments because Kentucky law prohibits the waiver of interest.
- The Kentucky relief applies only to income taxes.
Additional guidance on COVID-19 Kentucky income tax relief will soon be available on DOR’s website.