File Your Return After March 1 Not Before!

Even though the IRS granted relief for farmers to file their tax return by April 15 of this year, there is a “gotcha” in the details.

If you file your return on or before March 1, 2013, you must also payyour tax on or before March 1.  If you file on March 1 and then pay your tax on April 15, you most likely will be subject to the penalty.

Therefore, to file and pay your tax without the penalty, make sure to file between March 2 and April 15, 2013.  Otherwise, you may owe a penalty you were not counting on.

Paul Neiffer CPA

  • Principal
  • CliftonLarsonAllen
  • Walla Walla, Washington
  • 509-823-2920

Paul Neiffer is a certified public accountant and business advisor specializing in income taxation, accounting services, and succession planning for farmers and agribusiness processors. Paul is a principal with CliftonLarsonAllen in Walla Walla, Washington, as well as a regular speaker at national conferences and contributor at agweb.com. Raised on a farm in central Washington, he has been immersed in the ag industry his entire life, including the last 30 years professionally. Paul and his wife purchase an 180 acre ranch in 2016 and enjoy keeping it full of animals.

Comments

Paul, I have not seen this information anywhere else. Everything I have read says that farm returns are extended to 4-15-2013. Since the 4562 is going to be available to efile on 2-10, I am hesitant to file the farm returns as I have advised my clients their payment is not due until 4-15-2013. Could you please give me the source of your information? Thank-you!

We are basing this on the wording the IRS release saying that the April 15 filing deadline is based on missing the March 1 deadline. Therefore, if you did not miss the March 1 deadline, we believe that the penalties would apply if paid after that date.

[…] Paul Neiffer points out that now that penalties are waived for farmers who file after March 1, they may not want to file by their usual deadline:  File Your Return After March 1 Not Before! […]