Idaho will extend tax deadline to May 17

Gov. Brad Little announced Wednesday afternoon the Idaho State Tax Commission will extend the filing deadline for Idahoans to file their state income taxes to May 17.

“I appreciate the Tax Commission andthe Idaho Legislature for prioritizing the actions needed to ease the burden on Idahoans in preparing their taxes this year,” Little said in a statement.

The Internal Revenue Service announced last week it was extending the deadline to file federal income taxes to May 17, in part because the IRS reportedly remains short-staffed as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. After the March 17 decision to extend the federal deadline, many states passed legislation to follow suit and synchronize their filing dates.

Idaho’s Legislature was on pace to do the same, with House Bill 347 calling to extend the state filing deadline from April 15 to May 17. That bill made its way to the Revenue and Taxation Committee for consideration on March 18, one day before the Legislature abruptly shut down because of a COVID-19 outbreak among its members and staff.

Little’s solution to bring the extension to the Idaho State Tax Commission, which is expected to approve the move today, will still likely be temporarily codified by the Legislature when it resumes deliberations. The Idaho House and Senate are both expected to resume April 6.

“It is a priority for the Idaho Legislature to act as quickly as possible when we return April 6 to approve legislation simplifying tax preparation for Idahoans,” Senate Pro Tem Chuck Winder and House Speaker Scott Bedke said in a joint statement.

The decision also represents the second consecutive year in which COVID-19 extended the deadline.

The AARP Tax Aide program — which offers free tax assistance and preparation to low-and-moderate-income taxpayers of all ages — continues to offer its services in four locations across Kootenai County. AARP has opened a location at the Lake City Center in Coeur d’Alene Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Harding Center at 411 N. 15th St. in Coeur d’Alene hosts a program on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Harding location replaces the Silver Lake Mall location, which will not host the program this year.

The Post Falls Senior Center will host the program on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Meanwhile, the Rathdrum Senior Center will host the Tax Aide program on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Services are also available in Kellogg.

Those in low-to-moderate income households seeking tax filing assistance and preparation can call the following numbers:

• Lake City Senior Center: 208-667-4628

• Harding Center: 208-446-6997

• Post Falls Senior Center: 208-773-9582

• Rathdrum Senior Center: 208-687-2028

• Kellogg: 208-786-9010