As the coronavirus pandemic yells “Cut!” across the world, the entertainment industry will feel the economic impact, with theaters closing their doors, lower attendance at film festivals, delayed productions, and the like.  Business managers and entertainment businesses, however, may feel some relief as Treasury called in sick and postponed Tax Day for 91 days.  The news first broke via tweet on March 20, 2020, when Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced on Twitter that Tax Day will be moved from April 15 to July 15.  A few hours later, the IRS fleshed out Mr. Mnuchin’s announcement by publishing Notice 2020-18, which provided more details regarding the taxes covered and the taxpayers affected by the new deadline.  The move is one of several recent measures taken by the federal government as it attempts to relieve the immense economic strain being put on Americans by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This announcement comes just two days after—and supersedes—Notice 2020-17, which postponed until July 15 the payment but not the filing of federal income taxes and imposed limits of $1 million for individuals and $10 million for corporations with respect to such postponement.  Notice 2020-18 restates and expands upon Notice 2020-17 by eliminating the distinction between payment and filing of taxes for purposes of the new deadline and by doing away with any pecuniary limits on the amount of tax that may be postponed.Continue Reading Treasury Gives U.S. Taxpayers Relief from COVID-19’s Economic Impact by Postponing Tax Day