Making sure you file your taxes on time is essential. By knowing what the last day to file is, you can ensure you’re able to submit everything by the tax deadline. That allows you to avoid failure-to-file or failure-to-pay penalties, ensuring you don’t end up owing the IRS more money than is absolutely necessary. If you’re wondering what the tax deadline for 2023 is, here’s what you need to know about the tax filing deadline.
What Is the Tax Deadline for 2023?
During most years, the tax filing deadline is April 15. However, 2023 is a bit different. April 15 falls on a Saturday in 2023, and tax deadlines aren’t ever set on weekends. Plus, April 17 is a holiday in Washington, DC.
As a result, in 2023, the tax deadline is Tuesday, April 18. As long as you submit or mail your return by April 18, you meet the tax filing deadline. However, you do need to factor in the time of day.
How to Make Sure Your Tax Return is On Time
For electronic filings, being on time with your taxes usually means transmitting your return to the IRS by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on April 18, 2023. Once it hits midnight in Washington, DC, that night, it’s technically April 19 for the IRS, which means you missed the deadline.
Now, this doesn’t mean you should wait to hit submit on an electronic filing until 11:59 pm, as there can be a slight delay when submitting your return to the IRS, and technical issues can arise. As a result, if you need to wait until the last day to file electronically, it’s better to do it early in the day as a precaution.
If you’re mailing your tax return to the IRS instead, you’re considered on time as long as your return is postmarked on April 18, 2023, or before. As a result, you need to make sure that your post office processes the envelope no later than April 18. Generally, that means the collection box, mailbox, or outgoing mail slot needs to be picked up and processed on April 18 or before. If you have concerns about the timing, giving the envelope containing your tax return to a counter employee is best, as those are often processed that day.
It’s also critical to make sure you go to the post office before it closes. Many post office locations have extended hours on the last tax filing day, but that isn’t guaranteed. Additionally, extended hours don’t mean the post offices are open until midnight, just that they’re open later than usual. As a result, you’ll want to check the hours at your nearest post office in advance to make sure you can get your tax return on its way before the tax filing deadline.
What to Do If You’ll Miss the Tax Deadline
If you know that you’ll miss the tax filing deadline, you do have an option that lets you avoid any failure-to-file penalties. By requesting an extension, you can have up to six months to get your return to the IRS and if you have late tax returns, better know what other consequences there will be and find the best solution. The deadline after filing an extension is usually October 15. However, due to tax day being moved back to April 18, 2023, the extension for 2023 lasts until October 17, 2023.
Filing for an extension doesn’t mean you can’t face any penalties for filing later. If you owe money to the IRS, you could face interest charges and failure-to-pay penalties based on the amount you owe. As a result, it’s best to send a payment based on your estimated obligation no later than April 18, 2023. That way, you can avoid those penalties or at least limit them.
Are you concerned about the fast-approaching tax filing deadline, or did you handle your taxes well before it arrived? Do you think there are benefits to filing right before the deadline, or do you think it’s smarter to file as quickly as possible? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Tamila McDonald is a U.S. Army veteran with 20 years of service, including five years as a military financial advisor. After retiring from the Army, she spent eight years as an AFCPE-certified personal financial advisor for wounded warriors and their families. Now she writes about personal finance and benefits programs for numerous financial websites.
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