IRS and SC Extend Federal and State Income Tax Filing Deadline Until May 17

The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced today that the federal income tax filing due date for individuals for the 2020 tax year will be automatically extended from April 15, to May 17. Individual taxpayers can also postpone federal income tax payments for the 2020 tax year to May 17 without penalties and interest, regardless of the amount owed.

This postponement applies to individual taxpayers, including individuals who pay self-employment tax. Penalties, interest and additions to tax will begin to accrue on any remaining unpaid balances as of May 17.

Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file beyond the May 17 deadline can request a filing extension until Oct. 15 by filing Form 4868. The federal tax filing deadline postponement to May 17, 2021, only applies to individual federal income returns and tax payments, and NOT to state tax payments payments of any other type of federal tax.

The South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) will follow the deadline change announced Wednesday by the IRS for individual income taxes, moving the normal April 15 deadline to May 17.