Government shutdown won’t change October 15 tax extension deadline

Although it continues Government shutdowntaxpayers who requested an extension earlier this year from the IRS to file their returns still must meet the deadline.

Taxpayers who needed more time to file their 2024 tax returns earlier this year were able to request Extension from the IRS Before the April 15 application deadline which gave them until October 15 to submit their applications.

While the extensions give taxpayers extra time to file, they do not get additional time to pay what they owe and must pay taxes due on April 15 of this year to avoid being hit with penalties and interest.

Due to the partial federal government shutdown, the IRS furloughed nearly half of its workforce this month — even though the extended deadline for filing 2024 tax returns is still October 15.

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Taxpayers facing a filing deadline after the end of the extension period can file their returns online.

Through the Free File Program, the IRS offers free guidance Tax software for applicants with adjusted gross income of $84,000 or less, while it also has fillable forms available for all income levels.

With thousands of IRS workers have been furloughed Because of the shutdown, filers will likely experience delays in contacting agency representatives, although the IRS’s contingency plan before the shutdown showed the agency planned to keep some customer service agents on the job.

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The IRS has furloughed about half its workforce due to the closure, although some customer service employees will remain on duty. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images/Getty Images)

last week, National Treasury Employees Union NTEU issued a statement warning taxpayers that they may have more difficulty getting help from the IRS if they need it when they try to file their taxes under the extension.

“Taxpayers across the country will now have a harder time getting the help they need, just as they prepare to file their extension returns scheduled next week.”

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“Every day these employees are prevented from working is another day of frustration for taxpayers and a growing backlog of work waiting for the lockdown to end,” NTEU added.