On March 17, 2021, the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced today that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year will be automatically extended from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021.
Individual taxpayers can also postpone federal income tax payments for the 2020 tax year due on April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021, without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed. This postponement applies to individual taxpayers, including individuals who pay self-employment tax. Penalties, interest and additions to tax will begin to accrue on any remaining unpaid balances as of May 17, 2021. Individual taxpayers will automatically avoid interest and penalties on the taxes paid by May 17.
Individual taxpayers do not need to file any 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 May 17 deadline can request a filing extension until Oct. 15 by filing Form 4868 through their tax professional, tax software or using the Free File link on IRS.gov.
This relief does not apply to estimated tax payments that are due on April 15, 2021. These payments are still due on April 15.
California has also postponed the income tax filing due date for individuals (those who file forms 540, 540 2EZ, and 540NR, including PIT composite returns) for the 2020 tax year from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. Individual taxpayers who pay their 2020 taxes in full by May 17, 2021, will not be subject to penalties and interest. This relief is available to all individual California taxpayers without filing a request or contacting FTB.
