The Tax Deadline To-Do List You Need To Know

If you haven't tackled the chore already, put filing taxes on your to-do list. The IRS expects your paperwork to be in their hands by July 15.

Speaking of to-do lists, the IRS itself has a huge one. Since the pandemic shutdown in March, the IRS has been sitting on a pile of 11 million pieces of unopened mail. Nearly half of that unopened mail is from taxpayers who filed paper returns. If you were expecting a refund, be prepared to sit on that for a whole lot longer. Taxpayers who filed electronically got their money back in a much more timely manner, so if you still haven't filed and anticipate a refund, you'll definitely want to avoid sending in a paper return.

Most states followed the federal government's lead in pushing back the tax filing deadline from April 15 until July 15. You can check your state's filing deadline by clicking here. You can still file an extension to push back your filing date by three months until October 15, but if you owe the government, you will accrue interest and penalties. You can find all the information you need at the IRS website.

In addition to the extended tax filing date, there are other provisions that have changed because of COVID-19. For instance, you can borrow up to $100,000 from your Individual Retirement Account without penalty for three years. Click here for the important highlights and information you need to know.