Treasury Extends Deadline to Pay Income Taxes by 90 Days

Due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, the Treasury announced Tuesday that it will be pushing back the April 15th deadline to pay income taxes owed for 2019 by 90 days. In other words, until July 15, 2020, no taxpayer will be charged interest or penalties on income taxes owed to the federal government for 2019.

The extension announced by the Treasury will give millions of individuals and businesses additional time to pay off 2019 income tax liability owed to the government. Specifically, individuals and small businesses, including passthrough entities such as partnerships and LLCs, may defer the payment of income tax up to $1 million, and corporations may defer the payment of income tax up to $10 million.

The new deadline only applies to federal income taxes owed for 2019 and does not apply to state income taxes owed for 2019. Some states like California, however, have followed in the government’s footsteps and have extended not only the payment of state income tax liability for 2019, but also the filing of state income taxes for 2019. New Jersey and New York have not yet provided for such extensions.

It is important to note that taxpayers must still file their 2019 income tax returns by the April 15th deadline or seek an extension. Similarly, as of now, the deadline to file gift tax returns and estate tax returns for 2019 remains the same.