Tax season is currently upon us, and the April 15, 2025, deadline is fast approaching. Filing income tax can be a stressful time for some taxpayers, especially if you leave it to the last minute. While the IRS does offer taxpayers an option to apply for an extension beyond the due date, sometimes taxpayers may encounter unexpected circumstances or events that can cause a delay in submitting their tax returns. However, the IRS also takes note of widespread events that impact multiple taxpayers and will take action to extend the deadline for these individuals.
What causes people to file their taxes late?
There are several reasons why someone may be late in filing their taxes. Often, people file their taxes late purely down to procrastination. There is often a mental block or fear surrounding taxes, particularly if your taxes are more complex and require increased time to file. For those who are freelancers or self-employed, it can feel particularly overwhelming to file your taxes, especially if you have not kept up with accurate and consistent records of your earned income throughout the year.
Despite the IRS emphasizing to always file your taxes even if you are unable to pay the tax liability you owe, people are afraid to file when they know they cannot pay their taxes. If you file your taxes on time despite not being able to pay, you can avoid penalties that are incurred from filing late, which will add to your financial distress. Additionally, the IRS offers long- and short-term payment plans for people who, come tax season, find they are unable to pay off the tax liability at once.
IRS extends tax deadline for these qualifiers
Recently, the IRS has announced that they are extending the tax filing deadline for North Carolina residents. This extension is not down to individual filers but is rather an extension for the collective in light of recent disasters affecting a whole area. The decision was made by the IRS to extend the deadline due to the recent federally declared disasters affecting citizens in the area, Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Debby.
“This was a combination of federal disaster relief for both Hurricane Helene and Tropical Storm Debby. Between the 2 federally declared disasters, taxpayers in all 100 N.C. counties automatically qualify for the May 1 deadline for filing and paying any federal taxes due,” a spokesperson for the Internal Revenue Service told The News & Observer in an email.
According to a statement from the North Carolina Department of Revenue, the deadline for North Carolina residents to file their federal and state taxes is May 1 and not April 15, as it is for the rest of the country. While the new deadline applies to all North Carolina residents, residents who live in areas that were particularly affected by the disasters can also claim interest relief. In addition, residents of the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina will also have the extension applied. In addition, some residents of North Carolina may qualify for an extension for state taxes to October 15.
IRS warns taxpayers about making false claims
This tax season is the last time you can claim the $1,400 recovery rebate credit, which was released during the COVID-19 pandemic. While most of these payments were automatically sent out by the IRS to eligible beneficiaries, if you had not filed your taxes for 2021, the IRS would not have known to send you your recovery rebate credit. However, if you have already claimed the credit and file again, and the IRS does process your claim, the IRS warns that there will be severe consequences for fraudulent or illegal behavior.
