What to do if you missed the deadline for filing a tax return?

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Filing a tax return is an essential part of every taxpayer’s responsibilities. It is crucial to meet the deadline to avoid penalties and interest on unpaid taxes. However, sometimes things can slip out of our minds, and we may miss the deadline for filing our tax return. If you have missed the lines for filing a tax return, you need to act quickly to minimize the consequences. In this article, we will discuss what to do if you have missed the deadline for filing a tax return.

Assess the Situation

The first step in dealing with a missed tax return deadline is to assess the situation. Determine why you missed the deadline and the extent of your late filing. Did you forget to file your tax return, or did you not have all the necessary documents? Did you file for an extension, or did you miss the deadline despite the extension? Understanding the root cause of the missed deadline can help you determine the best course of action.

File Your Tax Return As Soon As Possible

The next step is to file your tax return as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more interest and penalties you will accrue. Even if you cannot pay your taxes, you should still file your tax return to avoid the failure-to-file penalty. You may be able to avoid some of the penalties if you can show reasonable cause for your failure to file, but it is still important to file your tax return as soon as possible.

Pay What You Can

If you cannot pay your taxes in full, you should still pay what you can. The failure-to-pay penalty is much lower than the failure-to-file penalty. You may also be able to negotiate a payment plan with the IRS if you cannot pay your taxes in full. You can also consider using a credit card to pay your taxes, but keep in mind that you will have to pay a processing fee.

Request an Extension

If you missed the deadline for filing your tax return because you needed more time to gather your documents or complete your tax return, you can request an extension. An extension will give you an additional six months to file your tax return. However, keep in mind that an extension only gives you more time to file your tax return, not more time to pay your taxes. You will still need to estimate your tax liability and pay what you owe by the original due date to avoid the failure-to-pay penalty.

Understand the Penalties and Interest

It is important to understand the penalties and interest that may apply if you miss the deadline for filing your tax return. The failure-to-file penalty is typically 5% of the unpaid tax for each month or part of a month that your tax return is late, up to a maximum of 25%. The failure-to-pay penalty is typically 0.5% of the unpaid tax for each month or part of a month that your tax is late, up to a maximum of 25%. Interest is also charged on any unpaid tax from the original due date of the tax return until it is paid in full.

Consider Hiring a Tax Professional

If you are not comfortable dealing with the IRS on your own or have complex tax issues, you may want to consider hiring a tax professional. A tax professional can help you navigate the tax system and negotiate with the IRS on your behalf. They can also help you minimize penalties and interest and ensure that you comply with all tax laws.

Avoid Future Missed Deadlines

Finally, it is important to take steps to avoid future missed tax return deadlines. One way to do this is to set reminders for yourself to ensure that you file your tax return on time. You can also use tax preparation software to simplify the tax preparation process and help ensure that you do not miss any important deadlines.

Take measures!

In conclusion, the absence of a deadline for submitting a tax return may be stressful, but this is not the end of the world. The most important thing is to take measures as soon as possible and submit a tax return, even if you cannot completely pay your taxes. You can also request an extension or agree on a payment plan with IRS if you need more time to pay your taxes. Understanding fines and interest that can be applied can also help you minimize the consequences of the lost date of the tax return. Having accepted proactive steps to avoid future missed terms, you can ensure that all tax laws are compliant and avoid unnecessary stress and punishments in the future. Therefore, do not worry, it’s not scary!

Learn more about Who Must File A Tax Return