Latest IRS Tax Extension Clarifications as of Thursday, April 9, 2020 8:03 PM

1) Estimated Tax Payments for 2^nd Quarter:  https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-extends-more-tax-deadlines-to-cover-individuals-trusts-estates-corporations-and-others

“Besides the April 15 estimated tax payment previously extended, today’s notice also extends relief to estimated tax payments due June 15, 2020. This means that any individual or corporation that has a quarterly estimated tax payment due on or after April 1, 2020, and before July 15, 2020, can wait until July 15 to make that payment, without penalty.”  (Commentary: So, for a calendar year taxpayer, no estimated tax payment is due for 2020 before July 15^th, when you will then pay your 1^st and 2^nd Quarter payment. That’s good news! Until today, the 2^nd Quarter payment was due on June 15^th, even though the 1^st Quarter payment was extended to July 15^th, which was confusing and impractical.)

2) Extension of time to file beyond July 15

“Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file beyond the July 15 deadline can request an extension to Oct. 15, 2020, 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. An extension to file is not an extension to pay any taxes owed. Taxpayers requesting additional time to file should estimate their tax liability and pay any taxes owed by the July 15, 2020, deadline to avoid additional interest and penalties.”

(Commentary: This is what tax preparers expected, but it is good the IRS made an affirmative declaration to make it 100% clear.)

3) Various SUPER IMPORTANT special forms are also extended, as discussed above, with your returns.  Again, it was a bit unclear, and now the IRS has made it 100% clear:

“This relief is automatic; Affected Taxpayers do not have to call the IRS or file any extension forms, or send letters or other documents to receive this relief. However, Affected Taxpayers who need additional time to file may choose to file the appropriate extension form by July 15, 2020, to obtain an extension to file their return, but the extension date may not go beyond the original statutory or regulatory extension date. For example, a Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, may be filed by July 15, 2020, to extend the time to file an individual income tax return, but that extension will only be to October 15, 2020. That extension will not extend the time to pay federal income tax beyond July 15, 2020. This relief includes not just the filing of Specified Forms, but also all schedules, returns, and other forms that are filed as attachments to Specified Forms or are required to be filed by the due date of Specified Forms, including, for example, Schedule H and Schedule SE, as well as Forms 3520, 5471, 5472, 8621, 8858, 8865, and 8938. This relief also includes any installment payments under section 965(h) due on or after April 1, 2020, and before July 15, 2020. Finally, elections that are made or required to be made on a timely filed Specified Form (or attachment to a Specified Form) shall be timely made if filed on such Specified Form or attachment, as appropriate, on or before July 15, 2020.”  https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-20-23.pdf  (page 7).

(Commentary: That is, all the listed forms are due either on the original due date of July 15^th or can be extended out to October 15^th, 2020. )

4) Don’t fall prey to Coronavirus tricks; retirees among potential targets  https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-issues-warning-about-coronavirus-related-scams-watch-out-for-schemes-tied-to-economic-impact-payments

The IRS and its Criminal Investigation Division have seen a wave of new and evolving phishing schemes against taxpayers. In most cases, the IRS will deposit economic impact payments into the direct deposit account taxpayers previously provided on tax returns. Those taxpayers who have previously filed but not provided direct deposit information to the IRS will be able to provide their banking information online to a newly designed secure portal on IRS.gov in mid-April. If the IRS does not have a taxpayer’s direct deposit information, a check will be mailed to the address on file. Taxpayers should not provide their direct deposit or other banking information for others to input on their behalf into the secure portal. (Commentary: That is, don’t give anyone information about you or your forthcoming Economic Impact Payment, except for the IRS on their secure portal. You should not have to do anything else, or work with anyone else. Crooks are calling taxpayers to get information, promising to help them get their Economic Impact Payment…and that is all fraud!)

We hope you found this article about Latest IRS Tax Extension Clarifications as of Thursday, April 9, 2020 8:03 PM helpful.  If you have questions or need expert tax or family office advice that’s refreshingly objective (we never sell investments), please contact us or visit our Family office page  or our website at www.GROCO.com.  Unfortunately, we no longer give advice to other tax professionals gratis.

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