Democrats urge IRS to extend tax-filing season
By Naomi Jagoda - 02/18/21 06:25 PM EST A group of Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday urged the IRS to extend the tax-filing season beyond the current April 15 deadline in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
"It has come to our attention that, due to the ongoing pandemic, many Americans continue to face the same challenges that necessitated extending the filing season last year," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig.
Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), chairman of the Ways and Means Committee's oversight subcommittee, took the lead on the letter, and seven other Democrats on the committee also signed it. The letter comes after the oversight subcommittee held a hearing earlier Thursday about free tax-preparation services during the pandemic, during which some of the witnesses said an extension of the filing season could be warranted.
The IRS extended the deadline for filing and paying taxes last year from April 15 to July 15 because of the pandemic. An agency official told reporters last week that the IRS does not currently have plans to take similar action this year. As is typical, people can request six-month extensions to file their returns.
The Democratic lawmakers said last year's extended due date provided valuable relief, and that an extension would again be helpful again this year.
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https://thehill.com/policy/finance/539506-democrats-urge-irs-to-extend-tax-filing-season