Tax extension filings still due on Oct. 15 despite government shutdown. Here’s what to know.

Despite the ongoing government shutdown, taxpayers who requested an extension for filing their income tax returns earlier this year are still required to submit them by the deadline of Oct. 15.

The IRS has emphasized that taxpayers should fulfill their federal income tax responsibilities as usual, regardless of the government closure. Extensions are typically requested by about 20 million Americans, providing an additional six months to prepare and file their returns.

While an extension can be beneficial for those with complex tax situations or needing more time to gather documents, it does not exempt taxpayers from paying owed taxes by the regular April 15 deadline.

During the shutdown, most IRS operations have been halted with only essential employees working in areas such as taxpayer services and submission processing.

Deadline for Tax Extension

The deadline for filing taxes with an extension is 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15, in the taxpayer’s local time zone. Electronic filings should be submitted before this deadline.

Extension Beyond Oct. 15

Typically, extensions past Oct. 15 are not granted by the IRS. However, exceptions have been made for residents in states affected by natural disasters, such as Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, and some West Virginia counties, who have until Nov. 3 to file their federal returns.

Penalties for Missing Deadline

If the Oct. 15 deadline is missed, the IRS may impose a penalty of 5% of the amount due for each month or part of the month that the filing is late, up to a maximum of 25%. The penalty may be waived if a reasonable explanation for the delay is provided.

No penalty is typically charged for late filing if a refund is owed to the taxpayer.