(PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla.)- The tax filing deadline has come and gone. If you did not file a tax return or an extension, but should have, don’t panic. Tax experts with the non-profit law firm Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS) can provide free assistance to taxpayers who qualify for FRLS' Low Income Tax Clinic.
The Internal Revenue Service urge taxpayers who missed the April 18 tax-filing deadline to file as soon as possible. Taxpayers who owe and missed the deadline without requesting an extension should file quickly to limit penalties and interest. For struggling taxpayers unable to pay their tax bill, the IRS has several options available to help.
The IRS also reminds taxpayers who owed a refund that they don't receive a penalty for filing late. People shouldn't overlook filing a tax return. Every year, more than 1 million taxpayers overlook a tax refund; the IRS reminds those who didn't file in 2019 that time is running out to get any refund owed to them.
File and pay what you can to reduce penalties and interest
Taxpayers should file their tax return and pay any taxes they owe as soon as possible to reduce penalties and interest. An extension to file is not an extension to pay. An extension to file provides an additional six months with a new filing deadline of Oct. 16. Penalties and interest apply to taxes owed after April 18 and interest is charged on tax and penalties until the balance is paid in full.
Filing and paying as much as possible is key because the late-filing penalty and late-payment penalty add up quickly.
Even if a taxpayer can't afford to immediately pay the full amount of taxes owed, they should still file a tax return to reduce possible late-filing penalties. The IRS offers a variety of options for taxpayers who owe the IRS but cannot afford to pay. For more information see the penalties page on IRS.gov.
Taxpayers may qualify for penalty relief if they have filed and paid timely for the past three years and meet other important requirements, including paying or arranging to pay any tax due. For more information, see the first-time penalty abatement page on IRS.gov.
FRLS' Low-Income Tax Clinic Could Help
Those looking for free tax relief services provided by FRLS’ Low-Income Tax Clinic are urged to contact tax advocates at 1-888-582-3410 or apply online at https://www.frls.org/litc
Note: The LITC does not generally provide tax return preparation. Our employees are responsible for ensuring that requests for reasonable accommodation are granted when the request is made by a qualified individual with a disability.