Thanks to a tip from writer and tax attorney Kelly Phillips Erb, we confirmed a series of confusing and potentially misleading errors on the IRS website just days before the tax filing deadline.
What’s going on
Tax professionals are reporting, and we’ve verified, that when logging into a taxpayer’s online account on IRS.gov, the system displays April 22, 2025, as the extension payment due date instead of the correct April 15, 2025, deadline.
One possible explanation is that April 22 may refer to the five-business-day window to “perfect” a failed e-file submission. In these situations, while the original filing must still be submitted by April 15, the IRS allows until April 22 to correct errors and resubmit without late filing penalties. However, the site does not explain this situation, and the message lacks context.
Additional problems found include:
- Mislabeling the amended return as “104X” (instead of Form 1040-X)
- Some are seeing a message that implies returns already filed and processed returns for 2022 and 2023 are still being processed
Why this matters
This misinformation could easily lead taxpayers and preparers to mistakenly delay extension payments until April 22, risking late payment penalties and interest. With no clear explanation on the page, this error is misleading and problematic for those relying on IRS guidance.
What we’re doing
We’ve raised these concerns with our IRS contact and requested immediate clarification and corrections to avoid further confusion during this critical time. We’ll monitor the situation and update you with any developments.
Please remind your clients that April 15 remains the official deadline for filing and extension payments.
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Information included in this article is accurate as of the publish date. This post is not reflective of tax law changes or IRS guidance that may have occurred after the date of publishing.