Last week, some news outlets were incorrectly reporting that you didn’t have to file your income tax returns or pay your income taxes until July 15, 2020. That was wrong. In IRS Notice 2020-17 issued last Wednesday, the IRS delayed only the payment, but not the filing.
Realizing the awkward situation that created, on Friday, Treasury issued Notice 2020-18 which supersedes Notice 2020-17, and extends BOTH the payment and the filing to July 15, 2020. The Notice says that affected taxpayers do not have to file Forms 4868 or 7004 to get the extension.
Again, the relief provided is solely with respect to federal income tax payments, including payments of tax on self-employment income, and federal income tax returns due on April 15, 2020 for the tax year 2019, and is also for federal estimated income tax payments, including payments of tax on self-employment income, due on April 15, 2020.
It does not appear to be an extension of time for reporting repayment to the Social Security Administration (W-3 and W-2), employer’s quarterly tax returns (Form 941), employer’s federal annual unemployment (FUTA) tax return (Form 940) or otherwise.