COVID Tax Tip 2021-36, March 24, 2021
IRS.gov is always available and has tools to help people file and pay taxes, find information about their account, and get answers to tax questions.
Here are a few things that people can do with a visit to IRS.gov.
File a tax return
Taxpayers who earned $72,000 or less in 2020 can file free using brand-name tax software with IRS Free File. People who earned more and want to do their own taxes can use Free File Fillable Forms. These are the electronic versions of IRS paper forms. Either way, everyone has a free electronic filing option.
The IRS has extended the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year from April 15, 2021, to May 17, 2021. Individual taxpayers have until May 17 to file and pay 2020 federal income taxes. If individual taxpayers need more time to file, they can use IRS Free File through May 17 to electronically request an extension to file until October 15. Taxpayers should remember that an extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay. Penalties and interest may apply to taxes not paid by May 17.
Individual taxpayers can get an extension by paying all or part of their estimated income tax due using Direct Pay, the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System or a credit or debit card, and indicating that the payment is for an extension. This way they won’t have to file a separate extension form and will receive a confirmation number for their records.
Pay taxes online
Individual taxpayers can file now and schedule their federal tax payments through the May 17 due date. They can pay online, by phone or with their mobile device and the IRS2GoApp. Electronic payment options are the optimal way to make a tax payment to support social distancing and speed the processing of payments. This includes IRS Direct Pay, electronic funds withdrawal and payment by debit or credit card.
View federal tax information online
Taxpayers can visit IRS.gov to securely access information about their federal taxes. They can access their tax records, review their payment history, and view tax return information for the current year’s tax return as originally filed.
Get answers to tax questions
Taxpayers can find reliable answers to their tax questions using the Interactive Tax Assistant. This tool asks a series of questions and provides immediate answers on a variety of tax topics.
Learn more about the recovery rebate credit and the third round of Economic Impact Payment
There is a special section of IRS.gov where taxpayers can find information about their latest Economic Impact Payment and claiming the 2020 recovery rebate credit.