The deadline to file taxes this year is April 17, and even though up to 80% of Americans are expected to receive a refund, many will still submit their returns late.
Last year, nearly 122 million refunds were issued, with an average payout of $2,895. For those who are going to miss the deadline – don’t panic – but don’t procrastinate further.
Here is what you need to know if you are not prepared to file and pay your taxes by Tuesday.
File for an Extension:
The best thing you can do if you know you are going to miss the deadline? File for an extension by submitting Form 4868, which allows you to file as late as Oct. 15.
There are a variety of reasons people might need to file an extension, whether they don’t have all their sources of income and expenses identified or they need assistance, Tim Speiss, partner at EisnerAmper Wealth Planning, told FOX Business. Filing for an extension, however, does not mean you also extend the timeline to pay your taxes.
“To have a valid extension generally – you need to pay in 90% of the tax due at the time of the filing, so in that case by [April 17],” Speiss said. “If you can’t do that, pay in as much as you possibly can to avoid further potential late-filing and interest charges.”
So filing Form 4868 with payment, which can be done online, will keep you in the IRS’ good graces for the time being.
File and Pay as Soon as Possible
Generally people who miss the deadline either ran out of time or didn’t have the money, Ted Kurlowicz, professor of taxation at The American College of Financial Services, told FOX Business.“You should do the least harm and file as soon as possible and pay the tax as soon as possible,” he said.
If you file and pay late, you are most likely going to have to pay extra. A penalty is issued first for filing late. This is 5% of the amount of unpaid taxes each month, up to a maximum of 25%. The penalty for paying late is 0.5% of the amount you owe each month up to a maximum of 25%. If both penalties are due in the same month, the failure-to-file penalty is reduced to 0.5%.
“The late-filing penalty could actually be higher than the late-tax-payment penalty so you should file as soon as possible to do the least harm to your personal finances,” Kurlowicz said.
The IRS will not forget your obligations, so make sure you tend to them promptly.
Be Proactive
“If a person is late with filing and late paying taxes, if they’re diligent and proactive with the tax authorities, that’s the best way to position yourself for the best possible outcome,” Speiss said.
If you have suffered a recent hardship, the IRS may also be receptive to your circumstances.
“You could negotiate penalties and interest, not usually the tax, but with a hardship, you might be able to negotiate a tax settlement,” Speiss said.
Being outside the country is a valid excuse for filing and paying late. In that case, the deadline will be extended until June 15, according to Kurlowicz.
Ask for Help
If you are unsure of what to do or how to handle your financial situation, consult or request help from a qualified professional.
“It’s a very stressful experience for many people,” Speiss said. “If you’re in a situation where you don’t think you can meet the filing deadline requirement … it’s always best to go out and hire competent tax advisers to assist you.”
For more tax tips and insights, click here.
Author: Michael
Handsome Devil..... and Smart too.
Be the first to comment