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March 22, 2022

2021 Federal Income Tax Returns are Due April 18, 2022 For Most Individuals

If you live in Maine or Massachusetts the due date is April 19, 2022.

You can extend the filing date.

You can  file for an extension by filing IRS Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return by the April due date. The extension gives you an additional six months (until October 17, 2022) to file your federal income tax return. You can also file for an automatic six-month extension electronically (details on how to do so can be found in the Form 4868 instructions). There may be penalties for failing to file or for filing late.

Note: Special rules apply if you’re living outside the country, or serving in the military outside the country, on the regular due date of your federal income tax return.

Include a payment if possible.
File  the return, and pay as much as you can afford if you absolutely cannot pay what you owe. You’ll owe interest and possibly penalties on the unpaid tax. You will limit the penalties assessed by filing your return on time, and you may be able to work with the IRS to pay the unpaid balance (options available may include the ability to enter into an installment agreement).

It’s important to understand that filing for an automatic extension  to file your return does not provide any additional time to pay your tax. When you file for an extension, you must estimate the amount of tax you will owe. Paying the full amount by the April filing due date will reduce interest and penalties based on the amount not paid. IRS may void the extension if your estimate of taxes was not reasonable.

Tax refunds

The IRS encourages taxpayers seeking tax refunds to file their tax returns as soon as possible. The IRS anticipates most tax refunds being issued within 21 days of the IRS receiving a tax return if the return is filed electronically, the tax refund is delivered through direct deposit, and there are no issues with the tax return. To avoid delays in processing, the IRS encourages people to avoid paper tax returns whenever possible.

IRA contributions

Contributions to an individual retirement account (IRA) for 2021 can be made up to the April due date (without regard to extensions) for filing the 2021 federal income tax return.

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