Just days before the April 15 deadline, an IRS spokesperson reiterated that people should avoid filing their taxes by mail and submit them electronically if possible, while the agency issued a news release that taxpayers should try to pay by that deadline.
The spokesperson added that people who have to file a paper tax return should “verify the accurate mailing address either on IRS.gov or in the instructions provided with Form 1040 to prevent processing delays.”
Taxpayers do not have to worry about the constraints of the U.S. Postal Service if they send in their returns via snail mail, the spokesperson added.
“The IRS considers a tax return filed on time if it is addressed correctly, has enough postage, and is postmarked by the due date,“ they told 11Alive. ”If that’s the case, as long as it’s postmarked by the due date, the IRS will process the tax return or payment as timely. The IRS asks that taxpayers not file a duplicate return.”
Stephanie Loose, a certified public accountant, told 11Alive that people who opt to file by mail should take their tax return mail to the post office rather than using another method.
“Go to the post office,” she said. “Watch them put the stamp on it yourself.”
‘Entire Obligation’
On Thursday, IRS also reiterated that people need to pay their “entire obligation” or as much as they can by April 15.“Taxpayers who owe should pay their entire obligation, or as much as they can, by the April 15 deadline to avoid penalties and interest,” the IRS said on Thursday in reminding taxpayers that they can file an extension that can delay the submission of their returns by six months.
“While an extension allows for extra time to gather, prepare and file paperwork, it’s important to remember that an extension of time to file taxes is not an extension of time to pay,” it also said.
Taxpayers who pay as much as they can by the deadline can reduce the amount that will be penalized by the federal agency as well as reducing the interest charges, the agency said in a release.
The interest rate for an individual’s unpaid taxes stands at 7 percent, compounded daily, while the late-filing penalty is about 5 percent per month, which maxes out at 25 percent, it noted. The late-payment penalty is normally 0.5 percent, which also maxes out at 25 percent.
“Other fast, free and easy ways to get an extension include using IRS Direct Pay, the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System or by paying with a credit or debit card or digital wallet,” the release added. “There is no need to file a separate Form 4868 extension request when making an electronic payment and indicating it is for an extension. The IRS will automatically count it as an extension.”
“The fact of the matter is that these penalties only apply in circumstances where the taxpayer owes taxes, and they are not paid by the due date. If a taxpayer is due a refund, the April 15 date, in a practical sense, means nothing. The taxpayer can file their return for up to three years after the original due date and the IRS will not only issue their refund but will pay the taxpayer interest on the refund,” Mr. O'Saben told the outlet.
However, he still warned people they should try to file within the deadline. “If you go beyond the three-year limit after the original due date, even if you are due a refund, you will no longer be entitled to it,” he said.
