Eight Democratic members of the House Ways & Means Committee penned a letter to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig on February 18, asking that the due date again be extended beyond April 15 this year.[1]

The letter, after reminding the Commissioner about last year’s extension of the deadline through July 15, outlined the following challenges facing tax preparers and taxpayers this year:

One year later, another unique filing season is underway, and many of these same pandemic-related difficulties and challenges persist for taxpayers, practitioners, and the IRS. For starters, health and safety concerns continue to keep taxpayer assistance sites closed and taxpayers homebound. As a result, taxpayers are having a much harder time receiving the crucial assistance they are accustomed to and require. These challenges are especially acute for low-income taxpayers with limited digital or English proficiency.

Further, an added challenge this year is the condensed filing season, as April 15 will come just two months after the opening of the 2021 filing season. We are troubled that this reduced timeline will exacerbate difficulties for many taxpayers who may be unprepared for the amount due with their return and will have no savings to turn to and less time to consider their options. Importantly, as well, the IRS is still processing millions of returns from last year and has had less time to adjust to the training and safety needs of newly-hired or recalled employees.[2]

Thus, the letter calls for pushing the due date back beyond April 15:

At the Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee’s recent hearing, “Free Tax Preparation Services During the Pandemic,” we learned that the demand for free tax preparation services this year already has been extraordinary and that some preparers believe an extension of the filing season is needed. Accordingly, we request that you consider an extension of the tax return filing season with an announcement made as soon as possible to eliminate unnecessary taxpayer and practitioner anxiety. We sincerely believe that an early extension of the filing and payment deadlines will benefit and be a comfort to taxpayers, practitioners, and the IRS alike.[3]

The letter was signed by the following members of the Committee:

Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., Chairman, Subcommittee on Oversight
Rep. Danny K. Davis, Chairman, Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support
Rep. Judy Chu
Rep. Gwen Moore
Rep. Dwight Evans
Rep. Bradley S. Schneider
Rep. Thomas R. Suozzi and
Rep. Steven Horsford

Conspicuously absent from that list of signatories is the Committee Chair, Rep. Richard Neal. As well, the IRS has not responded to this letter yet.

For now, the original due date remains April 15 and advisers should plan on that being the date by which returns or extensions will need to be filed for individual returns.

[1] Letter from Eight House Ways and Means Committee Democratic Members, House Ways & Means Committee website, February 18, 2021, https://waysandmeans.house.gov/sites/democrats.waysandmeans.house.gov/files/documents/2021.02.18%20WM%20Letter%20on%20Filing%20Extension.pdf (retrieved February 20, 2021)

[2] Letter from Eight House Ways and Means Committee Democratic Members, House Ways & Means Committee website, February 18, 2021

[3] Letter from Eight House Ways and Means Committee Democratic Members, House Ways & Means Committee website, February 18, 2021