Tick-tock, taxpayers: the clock is winding down on yet another fun-filled tax season, with the final moments to file those pesky 2023 returns rapidly approaching. The Internal Revenue Service is sitting, waiting for your forms, until 11:59 p.m. on April 15, in whatever time zone you call home, barring a few exceptions. According to KENS5, if you're one of the many New Yorkers scrambling to get this done, remember that the state offers a little online assistance for status-checking your refund at their Tax Department website.
Now, if you hail from Massachusetts or Maine, congrats on your little reprieve: you've got until April 17, thanks to a couple of holidays playing in your favor. And should you be among the less fortunate affected by certain circumstances, like the October attack on Israel or severe weather disasters, the IRS isn't heartless—they've granted extensions, as detailed by CBS News. That includes active-duty military in particular zones, and U.S. citizens abroad, too. However, it's important to not completely kick back; per the IRS, just because you can delay your filing, don't even think about to also delay slapping some cash into their coffers if you owe them.
The IRS machine has reportedly ingested about 100 million returns already, but it's gearing up for another mouthful — a whopping total of 128.7 million by the stroke of midnight on the due date, as per CBS News. If you're running late or just love the adrenaline rush of the last-minute tax hustle, the IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel wants you to remember: "Millions of taxpayers across the nation will be working on their tax returns during the final hours, and people should remember they have many ways to get last-minute help."
Got cold feet? Scared you won't make it in time? Don't sweat it—almost 19 million are predicted to procrastinate their way to an automatic extension. Sure, filing Form 4868 is basically saying, "I promise, I'll finish my homework by October 15th," as reported by CBS News. And for those wedded to good ol' snail mail, the U.S. Postal Service reminds you that a postmarked envelope by April 15 is your ticket to on-time filing. It's easy-peasy, as long as you get the postage right and scribble the correct address. But do remember you have got to file for an extension if you can't make it in time — or face a not-so-nice penalty, as IRS makes very, very clear.
If you're really not cut out for all this tax-filing wizardry alone, the IRS is holding out a helping hand. They're hosting an in-person help session at their Taxpayer Assistance Centers on April 13, from the bright hour of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at 130 S. Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202, via KENS5. Because let’s face it: when it comes to taxes, we could all use a friend. And if none of this cuts it, the IRS and the New York State Tax Department have a treasure trove of information on the web for every question under the fiscal sun. So, get it together, New York, or face the wrath of the taxman.
