April 15 is tax day, the day on which you are supposed to have your returns done but if you haven't completed your return yet, you're in luck because the IRS has extended the deadline this year for all but one group of taxpayers.

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On March 29, the Internal Revenu Service announced it would be extending the tax filing deadline to May 17, 2021, from April 15. Financial expert Jini Thornton told 11 Alive that she thinks perhaps the reason the deadline was extended not so much for the taxpayers, but for the actual IRS saying, “I just don’t think the IRS has the resources to handle all of the responsibilities. They’ve been struggling for years with budget cuts and personnel challenges.”

Does the Federal Tax Deadline Extention Include State Taxes?

No. According to the IRS, "The federal tax filing deadline postponement to May 17, 2021, only applies to individual federal income returns and tax (including tax on self-employment income) payments otherwise due April 15, 2021, not state tax payments or deposits or payments of any other type of federal tax." 

Who Is Part of the Group of Taxpayers Who Must File or Pay by April 15, 2021?

If you make estimated tax payments, the IRS still expects you to pay on your first quarterly levy and that is due on April 15, 2021, with no exceptions. This also means that if you're someone who doesn't work for an employer that withholds taxes from your paychecks such as freelancers and sole proprietors, or if you're someone who brings in money from rent, alimony, interest, or dividends, you must file by April 15, 2021.

Since the IRS Tax Deadline Has Been Extended Will by Return Be Delayed?

No. The IRS says that even though the deadline has been extended most refunds are finding their way to taxpayers within 21 days of a filing being received.

How Can I Check My Tax Return Status?

Perhaps the easiest way, you can check on the IRS website. If you'd rather check by phone, you can call the IRS refund hotline at 800-829-1954.

What Do I Need To Check My IRS Tax Refund Status?

To check your IRS refund status, you'll need your Social Security number or your Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. You will also need to know what your filing status is. This means whether you filed single, married jointly, married filing separately, or as head of household. What the exact refund amount is that you're expecting.

Has the 2021 New York State Tax Deadline Been Extended?

When it comes to state taxes, New York extended the due date for 2020 personal income tax returns and related payments. Originally, the payments were due on April 15, but New York has extended the deadline to May 17, 2021. If you owe the state, as long as you file and pay by May 17, you will not be fined for failure-to-file, failure-to-pay, late-payment, underpayment penalties, or interest if filed. Note that this does NOT apply to people with estimated tax payments. Just as you’ll have to pay the IRS by April 15, 2021, you’ll also have to pay New York by April 15.

Has the 2021 Pennsylvania State Tax Deadline Been Extended?

When it comes to Pennsylvania state taxes, Pennsylvania has also extended the deadline to file and pay your 2020 personal income taxes to May 17, 2021. And, just like New York, this does not include the 2021 estimated tax payment, the first of which is due April 15.

How Do I File for a Tax Extention?

If you are an individual taxpayer, you can request a filing extension (it would be extended to October 15, 2021), by filing Form 4868.