For most taxpayers, the filing deadline to submit 2021 tax returns or to request an extension to file and pay tax owed will be April 18, the IRS said in a release on Monday. That’s later than the typical April 15 deadline because of the Emancipation Day holiday that day in the District of Columbia. Those who live in Maine or Massachusetts will have until April 19 because of the Patriots’ Day holiday the day before in those states. Taxpayers requesting an extension will have until Oct. 17 to file their returns. The January date marks a return to normal after the agency opened tax season later last year because it needed more time to program and test its systems to account for economic impact payments from a December 2020 stimulus bill. The IRS said it’s still updating and testing its systems, aiming to ensure that eligible people can claim the proper amount of the expanded Child Tax Credit and claim any remaining stimulus money as a Recovery Rebate Credit when filing their 2021 tax return. The IRS previously said it is sending taxpayers letters to help them reconcile those payments with their records before filing their taxes. Have a question, comment, or story to share? You can reach Medora at medoralee@thebalance.com.
