Has anyone been fined for being a day or two late on their tax return?
 

I know I had 4 months to do it, but I haven't yet. :P I'm planning to get it done this weekend. Anyone know if I will end up getting fined or arrested?

Re: Has anyone been fined for being a day or two late on their tax return?
 

Not that I know of, though there will be a fine or late penalty. Though IRS agents will be fired for late or wrong returns.

Re: Has anyone been fined for being a day or two late on their tax return?
 

You'll pay penalty and interest.

Any online tax provider (turbo tax, ect) offer easy online Federal extension filing. If your filing in MA you are automatically entitled to a state extension til 10-15.

Re: Has anyone been fined for being a day or two late on their tax return?
 

If you're getting a refund, I seriously doubt they'd fine you for letting them keep your money an extra couple of days...

If you owe a small amount, say a few hundred dollars, I doubt they'd even notice it. It'll probably take a few days to sort/scan the crush of returns mailed on the 15th anyway. If you owe a lot, and are late by a few weeks, you'll get a letter demanding payment and stating the penalty. I sent in a return without payment once. They will send you 3 notices to pay up before Taking Legal Action. The penalty, if any, is calculated at 18% annual interest. (This was several years ago, it might be more now)

Bottom line -- if it's just a couple of days, I wouldn't sweat it.

Re: Has anyone been fined for being a day or two late on their tax return?
 

If you are due a tax refund, nothing will happen to you.

If you owe money, you will not be arrested, but you will be assessed both a penalty and interest.

At the very least, go to the quick assessment page and see what you need, or just file an extension if in doubt. http://www.irs.gov/irs/article/0,,id...html?portlet=7

Within a circle of two dozen, we sent our payments in today.

Re: Has anyone been fined for being a day or two late on their tax return?
 

The interest on money owed to the IRS is insane. I got a letter this year saying some of my income was reviewd and partially revoked and that I owe them back around 1k that they already gave me. After some bitching, contesting and an overall lingering confusion I gave up and just let them have it.

Fortunately, I still had most of it with me, so paid it to them right then and there BUT had I not I would have had to select a payment plan which gets hit with interest every 11 days at an rate of 11%! If you did that in low paymenmts you'd never pay it back. My status hasn't changed though, and I fully intend to file in exactly the same way next year so I dunno what will happen, but if I gotta do the whole "hearing" thing I will.

Re: Has anyone been fined for being a day or two late on their tax return?
 

File the extension paperwork. That will give you three months (at least... I defer to greater knowledge of MA laws).

Interest may not apply, but fines always will.

Re: Has anyone been fined for being a day or two late on their tax return?
 

Unless you are a politician who has been selected for a cabinet position and *discover* you have a back tax mistake...

My understanding is similiar to what SW posted, 11% every 11 days.

Re: Has anyone been fined for being a day or two late on their tax return?
 

..yeah, just tell them you've just been assigned to this top secret installation, designed to train US Military Rangers to their full potential.
The rest is secret, but the weight of responsibility in knowing the fate of our (your) very President and the lives of the American public, overshadowed the pressing (but somewhat less so) need to file your return.

You can pay me later! :)

Re: Has anyone been fined for being a day or two late on their tax return?
 

Bugger. I'm filing this Saturday, hopefully the boffins won't notice (fat chance of that, eh).