IRS Extends Tax Filing Deadline Until May 17

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced on Wednesday that it will extend the tax filing period for Americans until May 17. The decision was announced by Reps. Bill Pascrell (D-New Jersey) and Richard Neal (D-Massachusetts).

“Almost a year later, we are still grappling with the massive economic, logistical and health challenges wrought by this devastating pandemic,” the representatives said in a letter to the IRS.

The move was already recommended by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Maryland) and Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), citing the COVID-19 pandemic as cause enough for adjustment.

“The various coronavirus relief programs created over the last year, including the bill signed into law just last week, have resulted in a large amount of extra paperwork for taxpayers this year and have required tax preparation firms to constantly update their systems,” Crapo said a statement.

The American Rescue Plan stimulus package passed into law last week also changed the federal government’s policy for collected income tax for middle-class Americans, so those who already filed 2020 tax returns may need to amend their existing documents, further justifying the extension.

Maryland has extended the filing deadline for state returns to July 15.