IRS Updates: Key Tax Deadlines | Guidance Under the CARES Act

On April 9, 2020, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced additional key tax deadlines for individuals and businesses as well as guidance under the CARES Act to taxpayers with net operating losses. 

IRS extends more tax deadlines to cover individuals, trusts, estates corporations and others
To help taxpayers, the Department of Treasury and the IRS announced yesterday that  Notice 2020-23  extends additional key tax deadlines for individuals and businesses. 

Last month, the IRS announced that taxpayers generally have until July 15, 2020, to file and pay federal income taxes originally due on April 15. No late-filing penalty, late-payment penalty or interest will be due. 

Yesterday’s notice expands this relief to additional returns, tax payments and other actions. As a result, the extensions generally now apply to all taxpayers that have a filing or payment deadline falling on or after April 1, 2020, and before July 15, 2020. Individuals, trusts, estates, corporations and other non-corporate tax filers qualify for the extra time. This means that anyone, including Americans who live and work abroad, can now wait until July 15 to file their 2019 federal income tax return and pay any tax due.

Extension of time to file beyond July 15
Individual taxpayers who need additional time to file beyond the July 15 deadline can request an extension to Oct. 15, 2020, by filing Form 4868 through their tax professional, tax software or using the Free File link on IRS.gov. Businesses who need additional time must file Form 7004. An extension to file is not an extension to pay any taxes owed. Taxpayers requesting additional time to file should estimate their tax liability and pay any taxes owed by the July 15, 2020, deadline to avoid additional interest and penalties.

Estimated Tax Payments 
Besides the April 15 estimated tax payment previously extended, yesterday’s notice also extends relief to estimated tax payments due June 15, 2020. This means that any individual or corporation that has a quarterly estimated tax payment due on or after April 1, 2020, and before July 15, 2020,can wait until July 15 to make that payment, without penalty.   

2016 unclaimed refunds – deadline extended to July 15
For 2016 tax returns, the normal April 15 deadline to claim a refund has also been extended to July 15, 2020. The law provides a three-year window of opportunity to claim a refund.  If taxpayers do not file a return within three years, the money becomes property of the U.S. Treasury. The law requires taxpayers to properly address, mail and ensure the tax return is postmarked by the July 15, 2020, date. 

1 – This relief includes not just the filing of specified Forms, but also all schedules, returns, and other forms that are filed as attachments to specified forms or are required to be filed by the due date of Specified Forms
2 – This relief comes through Rev. Proc. 2018-58 for affected taxpayers with a time sensitive which is due to be performed on or after April 1, 2020.

NOTE: The above list is not intended to be all inclusive. Rev. Proc. 2018-58 provides other disaster-related relief for time-sensitive actions and elections.

IRS provides guidance under the CARES Act to taxpayers with net operating losses
The IRS yesterday issued guidance providing tax relief under the CARES Act for taxpayers with net operating losses. Recently the IRS issued tax relief for partnerships filing amended returns.

COVID Relief for taxpayers claiming NOLs
Revenue Procedure 2020-24  provides guidance to taxpayers with net operating losses that are carried back under the CARES Act by providing procedures for:

  • waiving the carryback period in the case of a net operating loss arising in a taxable year beginning after Dec. 31, 2017, and before Jan. 1, 2021,
  • disregarding certain amounts of foreign income subject to transition tax that would normally have been included as income during the five-year carryback period, and
  • waiving a carryback period, reducing a carryback period, or revoking an election to waive a carryback period for a taxable year that began before Jan. 1, 2018, and ended after Dec. 31, 2017.

Six month extension of time for filing NOL forms
In  Notice 2020-26 , the IRS grants a six-month extension of time to file Form 1045 or Form 1139, as applicable, with respect to the carryback of a net operating loss that arose in any taxable year that began during calendar year 2018 and that ended on or before June 30, 2019.  Individuals, trusts, and estates would file  Form 1045 , and corporations would file  Form 1139.

COVID relief for partnerships with NOLs
On April 8, 2020, the IRS issued  Revenue Procedure 2020-23 , allowing eligible partnerships to file amended partnership returns using a Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income, by checking the “Amended Return” box and issuing amended Schedules K-1, Partner’s Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, to each of its partners. Partnerships filing these amended returns should write “FILED PURSUANT TO REV PROC 2020-23” at the top of the amended return.

Share this article:

Visit Us On:

By Ted Rose July 31, 2025
Issue 96 - Financial Clarity and Compliance, Guaranteed
By Ted Rose July 31, 2025
If your organization is grappling with financial complexity, delayed reports, or mounting compliance pressures, you're not alone. Whether you’re a government contractor preparing for a DCAA audit, a nonprofit managing grants and restricted funds, or a rapidly scaling business struggling to track profitability and cash flow, one thing is clear: You cannot grow with confidence unless your financials are clear and dependable. That is why Rose Financial Solutions created the ROSE Financial Clarity Guarantee, a commitment to delivering financial systems, insights, and support that equip you to lead with control and clarity. What Is the ROSE Financial Clarity Guarantee? It is a promise that your business will receive: On-Time Monthly Financial and KPI Reporting Guaranteed Pass on Your Audits and Reviews Improvement in Your Financial Results Our Finance as a Service (FaaS) model brings together experienced professionals, proven processes, and advanced technology to reduce complexity, provide you with the data you need to make better decisions, and unlock your full potential. Government Contractors For government contractors, financial clarity is not optional. A misstep in cost allocation or rate calculation can delay payments or trigger an audit failure. With shifting regulations and heightened oversight, the margin for error is reducing. ROSE helps government contractors: • Build and maintain DCAA-compliant accounting systems • Track indirect rates and cost pools with precision • Prepare audit documentation with confidence The result is reduced compliance risk, improved cash flow, and stronger competitive positioning on future contracts. Nonprofits Nonprofit organizations operate under intense scrutiny. Donors, board members, and grant-makers expect timely, transparent financial reporting, and internal teams are often stretched too thin to keep up. ROSE supports nonprofits by: • Delivering accurate, board-ready financials • Automating fund tracking and reporting • Ensuring audit readiness and compliance for grant and restricted funds With ROSE, nonprofits regain the operational clarity needed to grow impact, steward resources, and build donor trust. Growth-Focused Businesses For high-growth companies, finance is often a bottleneck. Rapid expansion brings increasing financial complexity, and internal teams frequently lack the bandwidth or expertise to keep up. ROSE empowers growing businesses by: • Providing near real-time financial dashboards and forecasts • Managing back-office operations with scalable systems • Offering financial insights without the overhead of a full-time hire The outcome is clear financial visibility, improved strategic decision-making, and readiness for investment, acquisition, exit, or expansion. Get a Cost Estimate for Your Business The ROSE Financial Clarity Guarantee is a results-driven approach grounded in decades of experience helping organizations scale with confidence. We’ve helped our clients grow from start-up/early stage to $100+ million in revenue with countless successful exits. If you are struggling with compliance, delayed reporting, inconsistent cash flow, or limited financial visibility, the first step to solving these challenges is understanding what a modern finance solution looks like for your unique needs. Fill out our pricing form to get a personalized cost estimate and discover how ROSE can help you gain financial clarity and scale with confidence.
By Ted Rose July 30, 2025
Wondering how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will affect your taxes and bottom line? In this video, we break down the key changes to R&D tax credits and bonus depreciation—and what they mean for small and mid-sized businesses, especially government contractors. Speaker: Timothy J. Fargo, CPA Client CFO, Tax Partner, ROSE CFO Rose Financial Solutions
More Posts