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Delay in IRS Processing Times Due to COVID-19

August 18, 2020 by Curtis Herbolsheimer
Copeland Buhl

The IRS recently issued the following statement in relation to a delay in payment processing times due to COVID-19.

If a taxpayer mailed a check (either with or without a tax return), it may still be unopened in the backlog of mail the IRS is processing due to COVID-19. Any payments will be posted as the date we received them rather than the date the agency processed them. To avoid penalties and interest, taxpayers should not cancel their checks and should ensure funds continue to be available so the IRS can process them.

To provide fair and equitable treatment, the IRS is providing relief from bad check penalties for dishonored checks the agency received between March 1 and July 15 due to delays in this IRS processing. However, interest and penalties may still apply.

Due to high call volumes, the IRS suggests waiting to contact the agency about any unprocessed paper payments still pending. See www.irs.gov/payments for options to make payments other than by mail.

Clients who receive an IRS notice claiming an additional balance due should confirm that payment was sent to the IRS via certified mail receipt or check carbon copy before responding to the notice or making an additional payment.

In addition to delays in processing of payments, the IRS has noted delays in the processing of returns and refunds as well.

Please contact your Copeland Buhl representative with additional questions.