Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wis.) recently spoke on “Morning with Mary” about the ongoing government shutdown. He touched on the widening gap within the Democratic Party and commented on President Donald Trump’s significant efforts toward peace in Israel.
Even with the government shutdown still in effect, taxpayers who requested an extension to file their tax returns with the IRS earlier this year need to keep an eye on the deadline. The cutoff for filing is April 15th, but if you filed for an extension, the new deadline falls on October 15th.
The extension allows taxpayers extra time to submit their returns, yet it doesn’t extend the deadline to pay any taxes owed. It’s crucial to pay the due amount by April 15 to avoid penalties and interest.
In light of the partial government shutdown this month, the IRS has furloughed nearly half of its workforce; however, the October 15 extension deadline still stands.
For those whose returns are due after the extension, e-filing is available. The IRS also provides free resources through its Free File program for users with an adjusted gross income of $84,000 or below. There’s also a fillable form accessible to all income levels.
While many IRS employees remain furloughed, some customer service representatives are reportedly still working to assist taxpayers, although this might be limited due to staffing issues.
Recently, the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) expressed concerns that taxpayers might struggle to get the help they need when filing extended returns. They highlighted, “Taxpayers across the country will find it even harder to get the help they need as they prepare to file extended returns due next week.”
NTEU further noted that “Every day these employees are locked out of work is another day of frustration for taxpayers and a growing backlog of jobs as they sit and wait for the shutdown to end.”
