Has Minnesota's Tax Filing, Payment Deadline Been Extended?

MINNESOTA — Both the Internal Revenue Service and the Minnesota Department of Revenue are providing tax payers with some breathing room for filing income tax returns.

The Internal Revenue Service said Wednesday the due date for the 2020 tax year for individuals was being moved by about a month: from April 15 to May 17. The agency said it would provide formal guidance in the coming days.

In Minnesota, state revenue officials announced Friday that the deadline for filing state returns has been extended to May 17 as well.

“This grace period for the individual tax filing and payment deadline provides timely relief to Minnesota families,” Gov. Tim Walz said. “As we work to get through the COVID-19 pandemic together, my Administration will do everything we can to ease the burden on Minnesotans.”

Minnesotans now have until May 17 to file or make any state income tax payments without penalties or interest.

Here’s what else the IRS said taxpayers need to know about the extended deadline:

Taxpayers can postpone federal income tax payments that would be due April 15 to May 17 without any penalties or interest regardless of the amount owed
The postponement is for individual taxpayers, including those who pay self-employment tax
Penalties or interest in unpaid balances will begin to accrue May 17
Taxes paid by May 17 will automatically avoid interests and penalties
Taxpayers will automatically qualify for this relief and don’t need to file any forms
Anyone who needs an extension beyond May 17 can file to request an extension until October 15 but any taxes due would still need to be paid by May 17.

The agency also clarified that the extension doesn’t extend to estimated tax payments; the money withheld in paychecks or the estimated tax payments people make if their income isn’t withheld automatically.