WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) today applauded the Treasury Department for quickly adopting his suggestion to extend the federal tax filing deadline from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. Today’s decision comes one day after Senators King, John Thune (R-S.D.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) introduced the Tax Filing Relief for America Act, which would have made this change legislatively, and it coincides with the Treasury Department’s previous announcement that it would extend the tax payment deadline for filers who owe the IRS 2019 taxes. Americans who would like to file early are still able to do so, and the Treasury Department is processing returns so taxpayers can get their hard-earned money back in a rebate as soon as possible.

“In this unprecedented moment, we should be taking every possible precaution to protect our country’s most vulnerable citizens,” said Senator King. “By moving Tax Day to July, we’re allowing American seniors to continue to ‘socially distance’ themselves without neglecting their tax responsibilities. This is a commonsense way to keep people safe, and I’m glad to see the Treasury Department acting quickly to clear up any confusion.”

Senator King has strongly pushed for proactive efforts to encourage social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic. In the last several days, he has urged the President to issue an executive order directing federal agencies to maximize telework, called on the President to use his existing authority to help address widespread shortages of medical equipment including ventilators, and joined a group of his colleagues to call on the Federal Communications Commission to temporarily use E-Rate program funding to provide Wi-Fi hotspots or devices with Wi-Fi capability to students who lack internet access at home.

The Tax Filing Relief for America Act is supported by AARP and the Association of International Certified Public Accountants.