A bit of a niche question, but - if you're married and one of you is deployed overseas in the military, can you get a tax filing extension? And if so, how does this work for joint filers, especially if the spouse is back home? I'm trying to understand this whole tax situation better before making a commitment to service.
Yes, military personnel who are deployed overseas are generally eligible for an automatic extension for filing federal income tax returns. This extension also applies to military spouses when they are filing a joint return.
The IRS provides an automatic 2-month extension to file your return and pay any amount due without requesting an extension. For a calendar year return, the automatic 2-month extension is to June 15. Whenever the IRS refers to "2 months", it always refers to the period extending to the next same-numbered day two months later. For example, an automatic extension from April 15, 2025, would extend to June 15, 2025. If the normal deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the deadline is the next business day.
However, if you are serving in a combat zone or a qualified hazardous duty area, you can generally wait until at least 180 days after you leave the combat zone/qualified hazardous duty area to file and pay any tax due. This applies regardless of where your spouse is located.
In both cases, the spouse who is not deployed would also receive the same extension if they are filing a joint return.
Keep in mind that any tax payments still accrue interest during this period, though no penalties are applied. Also, it's important to let the IRS know that the reason for the delay in filing is due to military service. The IRS provides a way to notify them through their website.
In addition, depending on your state of residence, you may also receive a state tax filing extension - definitely something to look into! Your service's Legal Assistance Office could be a valuable resource to elaborate further on this subject for specific situations. It's always a good idea to consult with a tax professional who is familiar with military tax issues to ensure you are correctly applying these provisions.
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