The deadline for most people to file their individual tax return and pay any tax owed is April 18th . If you do not file your return or pay the tax amount on time, you may owe penalties and interest. The IRS website lists the following penalty information:
What if I do not file my return on time?
A failure to file penalty is when you don't file your tax return by the return due date, April 18, or extended due date if an extension to file is requested and approved.
- 5% of unpaid tax required to be reported
- Reduced by the “failure to pay” penalty amount for any month where both penalties apply
- Charged each month or part of a month the return is late, up to 5 months
- Applies for a full month, even if the return is filed less than 30 days late
- Income tax returns are subject to a minimum late filing penalty when filed more than 60 days after the return due date, including extensions. The minimum penalty is the LESSER of two amounts – 100% of the tax required to be shown on the return that you didn’t pay on time, or a specific dollar amount that is adjusted annually for inflation. The specific dollar amounts are:
- $435 for returns due on or after 1/1/2020*
- $210 for returns due between 1/1/2018 and 12/31/2019
- $205 for returns due between 1/1/2016 and 12/31/2017
- $135 for returns due between 1/1/2009 and 12/31/2015
- $100 for returns due before 1/1/2009
NOTE: Provision 3201 of the Taxpayer First Act increased the minimum penalty for failure to file under Code Sec. 6651(a) from $205 to $330. However, the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act, better known as the SECURE Act, was passed at the end of 2019 and increased the minimum again to $435.
What if I do not pay my taxes on time?
A failure to pay penalty is when you don't pay the taxes reported on your return in full by the due date, April 15. An extension to file does not extend the time to pay.
- 0.5% of tax not paid by due date, April 15; 0.25% during approved installment agreement (if return was filed on time, and taxpayer is an individual); 1% if tax is not paid within 10 days of a notice of intent to levy
- Recurring charge on the remaining unpaid tax each month or part of a month following the due date, until the tax is fully paid or until 25% is reached
- Full monthly charge applies, even if the tax is paid before the month ends
What if I do not pay enough taxes during the tax year?
A failure to pay proper estimated tax penalty is when you don’t pay enough taxes due for the year with your quarterly estimated tax payments, or through withholding, when required.
- Estimated tax payments are generally required, if you expect to owe $1,000 or more when the return is filed. If your income is received unevenly during the year, you may be able to avoid or lower the penalty by annualizing your income and making unequal payments. Use Form 2210, Underpayment of Estimated Tax by Individuals, Estates and Trusts. We calculate the penalty separately for each required installment. The number of days late is first determined and then multiplied by the effective interest rate for the installment period.
- See Publication 505 PDF, Tax Withholding and Estimated Tax for more information.
- See IRS News Release IR-2019-55 or IRS News Release IR-2019-24 (Farmers and Fishermen) to determine if you meet the criteria for a waiver of this penalty for your 2018 taxes.
Dishonored check or other form of payment-
A dishonored check (or other form of payment) penalty is when your bank doesn't honor your check or other form of payment
- For payments of $1,250 or more, the penalty is 2% of the amount of the payment.
- For payments less than $1,250, the penalty is the amount of the payment or $25, whichever is less.