Democrats urge IRS to extend tax-filing season

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Source: The Hill

A group of Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday urged the IRS to extend the tax-filing season beyond the current April 15 deadline in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

"It has come to our attention that, due to the ongoing pandemic, many Americans continue to face the same challenges that necessitated extending the filing season last year," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig.

Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), chairman of the Ways and Means Committee's oversight subcommittee, took the lead on the letter, and seven other Democrats on the committee also signed it. The letter comes after the oversight subcommittee held a hearing earlier Thursday about free tax-preparation services during the pandemic, during which some of the witnesses said an extension of the filing season could be warranted.

The IRS extended the deadline for filing and paying taxes last year from April 15 to July 15 because of the pandemic. An agency official told reporters last week that the IRS does not currently have plans to take similar action this year. As is typical, people can request six-month extensions to file their returns.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/democrats-urge-irs-to-extend-tax-filing-season/ar-BB1dOcuC?li=BBnbfcQ&ocid=hplocalnews

[Budi]

1. They really should extend to July. The nation is so stressed. An extension is to benefit the people.

I wish they would do it.

[dalton99a]

2. Kick

[seta1950]

3. I think

They should give us a break for 1 year, no taxes for 2020

[Talitha]

4. Also because Pissolini made sure our USPS was sabotaged.

Who knows how long it'll take for our mailed returns to get there.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. Even the e-filed returns may take a while

Texas' CPAs are staring at dark screens in cold offices. Their customers can't find the paperwork in the dark. Their customers' W-2, 1099, etc are not moving through a crippled mail system.

I'm not in Texas, so I have power. My bank is HQ'd in Texas; I don't know if they have power or communications, I'll check in a few days. But I expect to download my 1099 from them when I get around to starting my return.

Best of luck to all in Texas, and all who are in the path of these storms.

Of course, anyone who doesn't have their W-2, 1099, can file for an extension until Oct 31. They just have to estimate the income and pay the tax on it by Apr 15.

Enough of this. Farewell, DU. This Bozo is out of here. Going to shovel snow for a while. Later.

[bucolic_frolic]

6. They might consider also the foul-ups over Gamestop trading

Even though the stocks surrounding Gamestop and hedge funds occurred this year, the records keeping and correcting requirements has stressed several brokerages such that broker and clearing companies are not updating errors from last years problems in a timely manner.

[bucolic_frolic]

10. APEX Clearing, for example, is HQ in Dallas TX

They have other addresses in about 5 US Financial Center cities, but the mailings come with a TX home address. So maybe the TX freeze is partly why nothing is getting corrected?

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

7. Oh good grief why? I think we know how to use our home computers, or theres these things called

envelopes and stamps. If you know how to sit at home and watch Netflix you can figure out e-file or download a tax form. There's plenty of REAL problems to work on esp re: Covid so pls lets stay focussed on THOSE.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

13. You'd be surprised how many still don't know how to use a computer

[TexasBushwhacker]

8. Just remind them to file an extension

That will give them until October 15.

[Prince99]

9. Payment

That only gives you a reprieve from filing not if you owe them. Still have to pay.

[TexasBushwhacker]

11. Of course

But most people have some idea if they pay or owe. If they know they owe, they can still send an estimated payment before April 15th.

[sfstaxprep]

14. And If They Can't Send A Payment, Because They Need To Pay The Rent?

Many are really hurting. Struggling to get by on a combination of Unemployment Benefits and Stimulus payments. Neither of which is very much.

I'm not saying the extra 3 months would make a huge difference, but it would make a difference. Especially since, hopefully, things will be starting to improve by July significantly enough that people who are not currently working, or those who are working, but with limited hours, will have a better ability to pay any Taxes they might owe.

[marlakay]

12. My daughter will hate that

She works for accounting firm and works major overtime Jan through April long days 12 hrs plus and Saturday, last year it was through July and she had both kids doing school at home while she worked there too. She is in Texas and just had time off from lack of power but not exactly stress free!!

I understand how people need more time but accounting firms need to not over stress their employees.

[TexasBushwhacker]

16. Yes, I work for a CPA who desperately needs a hip replacement

He planned to have it after April 15th, but if they extend the deadline 3 months, he may have to postpone it. He's been in a lot of pain and I hope he doesn't have to wait longer.

[marlakay]

17. I really hope they don't

I didn't mention that my daughter also gets a lot of migraines which have got worse since peri menopause and no medication seems to really work. Her neurologist wanted to try botox but military insurance they have won't cover it and she didn't pay for her medical at job because she has through husband.

[Jose Garcia]

15. How the frack did Congress become so weak?

Instead of urging the IRS to do something, they should pass a law requiring IRS to do it.

[brooklynite]

18. I don't understand why...

I don’t see a situation that would delay receiving documents or preparing the forms.