TAX AND WEALTH ADVISOR ALERT - Reminder - May 17 Is the Deadline for More Than Just Individual Returns

Sep 19, 2026

TAX AND WEALTH ADVISOR ALERT outlines IRS Notice 2021-21 extending the individual filing and payment deadline to May 17, 2021, then lists additional May 17 obligations beyond standard individual returns. It covers extension requests and how to extend via Form 4868 or estimated tax payments, 2020 IRA and HSA contribution timing, self-employed plan funding, IRA withdrawal deadlines, retirement plan distribution reporting and the 10% additional tax, household payroll tax filings, claims for unclaimed 2017 refunds, 990-series filings for tax-exempt entities, and Form 1040-NR requirements for foreign trusts and estates.

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May 17, 2021: Key deadline beyond individual returns

Individual return extension requests (Form 4868)

IRA and health savings contributions

Self-employed retirement plan funding and IRA withdrawal rules

Retirement plan distributions and additional 10% tax reporting

Household employment payroll taxes (Form 1040 Schedule H)

Unclaimed 2017 refunds

990-series returns for calendar year tax-exempt organizations

Foreign trusts and estates (Form 1040-NR)

State individual income tax extensions and conformity notes

Follow-up and contact

TAX AND WEALTH ADVISOR ALERT: REMINDER–MAY 17 IS THE DEADLINE FOR MORE THAN JUST INDIVIDUAL RETURNS The IRS extended the deadline for individual taxpayers to ﬁle and pay taxes to May 17, 2021 in Notice 2021-21. However, Monday, May 17 is the deadline for more than just individual returns. Here is a list of some other May 17 deadline items that IRS has noted: Individual return extension requests. Taxpayers can extend the deadline beyond May 17, 2021 by ﬁling Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. Filing an extension moves the ﬁling deadline from May 17, 2021 to October 15, 2021. You can also get an extension by paying all or part of your estimated income tax due with Direct Pay, the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), or a credit or debit card. Contributions to IRAs and health savings accounts. Taxpayers only have until May 17, 2021 to make 2020 contributions to individual retirement arrangements (IRAs), Roth IRAs, health savings accounts, Archer medical savings accounts, and Coverdell education savings accounts –even if they ﬁle for an extension. Self-employed persons retirement plan contributions. Self-employed persons have the opportunity to fund SEP and SIMPLE IRAs as well as solo 401(k) plans through the deadline for a timely ﬁled extension. Withdrawals of any 2020 contributions to an IRA. Withdrawals of any 2020 contributions to an IRA, including excess 2020 contributions (if you didn’t request a ﬁling extension) are due May 17, 2021. Notably, this rule does not apply to the following retirement plans: 401(k), 403(b), SARSEP and SIMPLE IRA plans. That deadline was April 15, 2021. Retirement plan distributions. Notice 2021-21 also automatically postponed to May 17, 2021 the time for reporting and payment of the 10% additional tax on amounts includible in gross income from 2020 distributions from IRAs or workplace-based retirement plans. Payroll taxes for household employees. Form 1040, Schedule H (Household Employment Taxes) is due even if you are not required to ﬁle Form 1040 itself. 2017 unclaimed refunds. The law provides a three-year window to claim a refund. To get any unclaimed refund from 2017, a taxpayer must properly address and mail the tax return, postmarked by May 17, 2021. If a taxpayer does not ﬁle a return within three years, the money becomes property of the U.S. Treasury. Returns for calendar year tax-exempt organizations. Also due May 17, 2021 are forms in the 990 series, including Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return. Foreign trusts and estates. Foreign trusts and estates with federal income tax ﬁling or payment obligations that ﬁle Form 1040-NR also have until May 17, 2021 to ﬁle or make payment. State individual income tax returns for most states. States issue separate guidance regarding any potential due date changes and do not always conform with federal updates. However, many states have announced that they will extend their tax deadlines to May 17, 2021 as well. For instance, Wisconsin announced the postponement of the 2020 personal income tax ﬁling and payment due date to May 17, 2021. Interest and late-ﬁling fees will apply beginning May 18, 2021. Nevertheless, if you need more time to ﬁle, Wisconsin oﬀers an extension. Wisconsin does not have its own separate extension application, however, if taxpayers have an approved federal tax extension (Form 4868), they will automatically receive a Wisconsin tax extension. Filing a federal extension moves the Wisconsin ﬁling deadline from May 17, 2021 to October 15, 2021. O’Neil Cannon will continue to monitor federal and state law tax changes. For questions or further information relating to the tax ﬁling deadlines, please contact Attorney Britany E. Morrison.

FAQs

What is the main IRS deadline discussed, and what does Notice 2021-21 change?

Notice 2021-21 extends the deadline for individual taxpayers to file and pay taxes to May 17, 2021. The alert emphasizes that May 17 applies to more than just individual returns.

Which contributions and IRA-related actions have a May 17, 2021 deadline?

Taxpayers have until May 17, 2021 to make 2020 contributions to IRAs and health savings accounts, including related accounts such as Roth IRAs. Withdrawals of any 2020 IRA contributions are also due by May 17, 2021, with exceptions noted for certain other retirement plans.

What other tax filings and payments are due May 17, 2021 besides personal returns?

The alert lists May 17 deadlines for household employee payroll taxes (Form 1040 Schedule H), claims for unclaimed 2017 refunds (mail postmarked by May 17, 2021), returns in the 990 series for tax-exempt organizations, and filing or payment obligations for foreign trusts and estates via Form 1040-NR. It also notes that many states extend their own individual income tax deadlines to May 17, 2021, depending on state guidance.

Sep 19, 2026

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