The government shutdown is not expected to impact the ability of the IRS to process tax returns or transmit tax refunds. You should plan to file your tax return as you usually would.
Some services may not be offered or may have limited staff, such as the IRS customer service helpline, walk-in taxpayer assistance centers, and IRS responses to taxpayer correspondence.
Early Tax Return Filing
Tax returns can be submitted to the IRS starting on January 28. Some tax software companies and tax professionals will prepare your return before this date, and then submit your return when the IRS starts accepting them.
The IRS will be recalling a portion of its workforce in order to get through the tax season. Refunds can be paid out regardless of whether the government continues its lapse in annual appropriations.
Tax Payments
You should continue to submit all required tax payments during the shutdown, including estimated taxes or payroll deposits. If you are going to owe taxes on your 2018 tax return, you have until April 15 to submit full payment without being charged any penalties.
You can file your tax return early in the season, even if you aren’t able to fully pay your tax liability yet, as long as you send payment by Tax Day.
Tax Return Filing Deadline
The tax return filing deadline is April 15th this year. If you live in Maine or Massachusetts, the filing deadline is April 17th.
Try to gather your documents and schedule an appointment with a tax preparer early on in the tax season. Expect tax preparers to be fully booked if you wait until April to make your appointment. Because of new tax laws that became effective for the 2018 tax year, your return may be different than it was in previous years.
If you can’t make the April 15th deadline, you can request a free automatic six-month filing extension. If you are due a refund, there’s no penalty for filing late. Taxpayers who owe taxes may face late payment penalties if they don’t file by April 15th.
Tax Resolution Help
If you have a significant tax liability or still owe taxes from previous years, you should examine your tax resolution options. There are several IRS programs that allow you to pay back your tax debt based on your income, assets, and other factors.
Consult a tax resolution attorney to learn more and put your tax debt problems behind you.
The Gartzman Law Firm offers tax settlement help for both federal and state tax debt. Use our contact form to request a consultation with an Atlanta tax resolution attorney.