IRS Commissioner, Charles Rettig, stated that the agency has “no present plans” to extend the tax-filing deadline—as it did last year, pushing the deadline from April 15 to July 15 due to the impact of COVID-19. Rettig’s statement comes on the heels of requests from congressional leaders and accounting trade groups to extend, once again, the April 15 deadline.
Key Democrats from the House Ways and Means Committee sent Rettig a letter in February, requesting that the IRS extend the April 15 deadline “due to the ongoing pandemic” and given that “many Americans continue to face the same challenges that necessitated extending the filing season last year.” The congressional letter was buttressed by letters from accounting trade groups, such as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP). Citing uncertainties and challenges resulting from the pandemic, both groups urged the IRS to extend the April 15 deadline.
Given the Commissioner’s public comments (and apparent reticence to extend the filing deadline), taxpayers should be prepared to file by April 15.