Bay State tax date still April 15
Failure to extend nullifies feds’ relief
As the coronavirus causes a historic surge in unemployment, lawmakers still haven’t moved to push back the April 15 tax deadline, which critics say could render the federal extension useless.
“What good would the federal extension be since so much of the same paperwork is required for both returns?” said Mary Connaughton, director of finance and administration and government transparency at the Pioneer Institute. “In effect, the state’s filing requirement would nullify much of the IRS’s relief.”
The federal government postponed the filing deadline until July 15. Out of the 41 states with personal income taxes across the country, 34 followed suit with matching extensions, according to President of the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants Amy Pitter, placing Massachusetts in the minority with a filing deadline less than three weeks away.
“The Commonwealth’s failure to act means that taxpayers and tax practitioners receive no benefit from the federal extension,” Pitter said. “The governor kicked the issue to the legislature. My hope is that they will act quickly.”
The offices of Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Robert DeLeo did not respond to requests for comment.
“We’ve been talking to our colleagues in the Legislature about this for several days,” Gov. Charlie Baker said during his daily COVID-19 update at the State House Thursday. “It requires a legislative fix to be done and I think one way or another, we’ll figure something out here, but we don’t have anything to say about it today.”
“Employers are living day to day at this point, so any type of relief to provide more cash flow shouldn’t even be a question,” MassFiscal Alliance spokesman Paul Craney said. “As of today, the message being sent by the administration and our State House leaders are to stay in your home with the exception of mailing your tax payment.”