Hawai'i is the lone holdout in making May 17 Tax Day 2021
Sunday, March 28, 2021
Updated Wednesday, April 7, 2021
Just days after the Internal Revenue Service's March 17 announcement that it was moving the 2021 tax filing deadline from April 15 to May 17, most states that collect some type of personal income tax followed the federal tax agency's lead.
The IRS decided that filers could use more time to file and pay their 2020 taxes since we're all still dealing to some degree with the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
That "we" includes the IRS, which faces a backlog of 2019 returns (and 2020 filings, too, since the tax season opened in mid-February), as well as the added task of issuing a third coronavirus economic impact payment to millions of Americans.
State tax calendars affected, too: When the IRS made the May 17 Tax Day change, that meant that tax officials and/or lawmakers in 42 total jurisdictions when you count the District of Columbia had some decisions of their own to make.
Most reacted quickly, agreeing within days to allow a similar extension until May 17 for the filing and payment of state taxes this year.
But most isn't all. Eight states were a bit more reticent. Those who took longer to act are Arizona, Arkansas, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi and Ohio.
Here's where those early hold-out states stand today (updated Wednesday, April 7, 2021).
But here's also a spoiler. Hawai'i looks to be the only state that won't go along with the IRS move of Tax Day 2021 to May 17.
Arizona — A state representative plans to add language moving the Grand Canyon State's 2021 tax deadline to May 17 to an unrelated bill. That might not be necessary if the Gov. Doug Ducey issues an executive order moving the deadline this year like he did in 2020 when the IRS pushed Tax Day to July 15. The governor's office said he is reviewing such a move.
ARIZONA UPDATE April 7, 2021: The Arizona Department of Revenue has moved the deadline for filing and paying state individual income taxes from April 15 to May 17, 2021. Additionally, the deadline for first quarter tax year 2021 individual estimated tax payments remains April 15, 2021.
Arkansas — The Natural State's Gov. Asa Hutchinson has since extended the normal April 15 deadline for his residents to file their individual income taxes on May 17 to coincide with the extension of the federal filing deadline.
Hawai'i — Officials of our 50th state are holding firm to their April tax filing and payment due date. That's April 20 in the Aloha State. However, the Hawai'i Department of Taxation notes that the state's taxpayers are granted an automatic six-month extension (until Oct. 20) if they are due a refund or if they pay their properly estimated tax amount owed by April 20.
Idaho — House Bill 347 was introduced in the Idaho legislature to push the Gem State's income tax filing deadline from April 15 to May 17. However, it adjourned without taking action on the bill. It's unclear whether it will get attention when lawmakers return to Boise on April 6.
Indiana — Gov. Eric Holcomb has signed an executive order shifting Hoosiers' income tax filing and payment deadline to May 17, instead of April 15.
Iowa — The annual filing deadline for Hawkeye State taxpayers is April 30. However, it's looking more likely that Iowa officials will move that date this year to May 17.
IOWA UPDATE March 30, 2021: The Iowa Department of Revenue has extended the filing and payment deadline to June 1, 2021, for 2020 individual income tax returns and first quarter estimated income tax payments for individuals from the April 30, 2021 statutory deadline.
Mississippi — Magnolia State taxpayers now are on the same filing and payment schedule for their state returns as Uncle Sam. The Mississippi Department of Revenue now follows the federal extension for 2020 tax returns, with the forms and payments all due May 17. And like the IRS shift, the month-long extension does not apply to quarterly state estimated payments. They still are due on April 15.
Ohio — It took a week, but the Buckeye State came around. The Ohio Department of Taxation announced on March 24 that it would follow the IRS and extend its deadline to file and pay Ohio individual income and school district income taxes for tax year 2020 until May 17.
Same day, but still some differences: While most states have conformed to the IRS May 17 personal income tax filing deadline, a few made some calendar and/or specific tax due tweaks.
Maryland, for example, pushed its filing deadline to July 15, 2021. I appreciate that my old stomping grounds are going for the full-year between filings.
May 17 also is the new filing deadline in Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia. Those states, however, will tack on interest to any individual income tax that's not paid by April 15.
Other delays due to storms: Another IRS action was the motivation for some states to change their tax filing due date.
After residents of Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas endured February's historic and deadly winter storm, the IRS granted most taxpayers in those states until June 15 to file their federal returns.
Working off that major disaster driven date, Sooner State officials said that Oklahoma taxpayers now have until June 15 to pay their 2020 individual and business income taxes. The extension also applies to payment of first quarter 2021 estimated income tax amounts.
The Pelican State took similar action, extending Louisiana's state tax deadline to June 15. This new due date is for individual income, corporation income and franchise, fiduciary income, partnership and partnership composite tax returns and payments with original or extended due dates on or after Feb. 11 and before June 14.
Even the Lone Star State, which has no individual income tax, also made a change. Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced an automatic extension of the due date for 2021 franchise tax reports from May 15 to June 15.
State tax deadline changes: The take-away here is double check with your state tax department as to what it expects this filing season and when it requires you to submit it.
You can find links to state tax departments in the ol' blog's state tax directory.
You also can check out the special online tracking of state tax due dates in 2021 provided by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA); the accounting and business consulting firm Wipfli LLP; the National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF); and Intuit's TurboTax blog.
States without individual taxes: Since I know you're curious, and maybe a little jealous, the seven states that don't have individual income taxes are my native and current home of Texas, along with Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming.
New Hampshire and Tennessee collect tax only on certain investment income and this filing season is the last that Volunteer State residents have to worry about that. Tennessee's Hall Income Tax, which since 1929 had been collected on interest from bonds and notes and dividends from stock, was phased out effective Jan. 1, 2021.
We've got numbers, lots of numbers: And since it's Sunday, that means it's By the Numbers day here on the ol' blog.
There are lots of options. All these states offer various tax deadlines, both original and new. And, of course, there's the new federal tax deadline 2020 of May 17.
But I'm going with a different tally this weekend.
With Tennessee in 2021 joining the no-state-tax ranks, that puts that number at eight. That's also how many states with income taxes that didn't immediately follow the IRS deadline move and change their fling deadlines to May 17.
So eight earns this week's By the Numbers honors.
You also might find these items of interest:
- Don't forget about your state taxes
- Real estate taxes are a big part of state funding, but vary widely nationwide
- Congress extends PPP, but state tax news isn't so good for the COVID-relief loans
Coronavirus Caveat & More Information In 2021, we're still dealing with extraordinary circumstances, both in our daily lives and when it comes to our taxes. The COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to reduce its transmission and protect ourselves and our families means that, for the most part, we're focusing on just getting through these trying days. But life as we knew it before the coronavirus will return, along with our mundane tax matters. Here's hoping that happens soon! In the meantime, you can find more on the virus and its effects on our taxes by clicking Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Taxes. |
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