Lakewood Tax Deadline Extended To May 17

LAKEWOOD, OH — The deadline for filing municipal tax returns for 2020 has been extended to May 17, Lakewood officials announced.

Lakewood will still accept electronic filing of taxes and attached payments this year.

Both the federal government and Ohio government extended their own tax filing deadlines to May 17, paving the way for Lakewood and other municipalities to follow suit.

"The extension is intended to provide some relief to individuals impacted by the public safety measures adopted to contain the spread of the coronavirus," said Ohio Tax Commissioner Jeff McClain.

Here's what else the IRS and Ohio Department of Taxation said taxpayers need to know about the extended deadline:

• Taxpayers can postpone federal and state income tax payments that would be due April 15 to May 17 without any penalties or interest regardless of the amount owed
• The postponement is for individual taxpayers, including those who pay self-employment tax
• Penalties or interest in unpaid balances will begin to accrue May 17
• Taxes paid by May 17 will automatically avoid interests and penalties
• Taxpayers will automatically qualify for this relief and don't need to file any forms

Anyone who needs a federal tax extension beyond May 17 can file to request an extension until October 15 but any taxes due would still need to be paid by May 17.

The IRS also clarified that the extension doesn't extend to estimated tax payments; the money withheld in paychecks or the estimated tax payments people make if their income isn't withheld automatically.