IRS extends tax date by three months

In light of the Boston Marathon bombings, Tuesday the Internal Revenue Service announced a three-month tax filing and payment extension to taxpayers in Boston and others affected by the explosions.

“In the wake of the tragedy, there are a lot of things that people need to be worried about that come before filing your tax returns, so we thought giving them some extra time to get that done should help people out a little bit,” said Peggy Riley, a spokeswoman from the IRS.

The deadline for filing taxes is historically April 15, but the deadline in Massachusetts was April 16 because Patriot’s Day fell on the original deadline. The new deadline for those affected by the bombings is July 15, according to a press release from the IRS Tuesday.

Riley said people who live in Suffolk County and the Boston area are automatically granted this extension and only have to file by the new deadline.

Residents living outside of the Boston area can still receive an extension if they prove they were affected by the bombings, she said.

“People on the outlying areas that are outside of that area have to call a special phone number … and let us know that they were affected so they won’t get penalized for filing late,” she said.

Riley said the people from outoutside of Boston should identify themselves and detail in their call how they were impacted by the bombings.

Those outside of Suffolk County can request an extension from the IRS starting April 23, according to the release.

“Our hearts go out to the people affected by this tragic event,” said Steven Miller, acting commissioner for the IRS in the release. “We want victims and others affected by this terrible tragedy to have the time they need to finish their individual tax returns.”

Eligible taxpayers who need more time to file their returns may receive an additional extension to Oct. 15 by filling out a form by July 15, according to the release.

Some residents said the extension is justified because of the mental and emotional effects of the bombings.

“If you have a relative or a friend who was affected, then clearly the last thing that you want to think about is your taxes,” said Peter Savadijev, 34, a researcher at Brigham and Women’s Hospital from the South End.

Although he already filed his taxes, Savadijev said the extension could help people who waited until the last moment to file their own.

“It is the right thing to do,” he said. “It’s good especially for people who were victims.”

Other people said the extension could help those who were affected by the bombings to learn the tax laws.

“It [the extension] could actually benefit people who are still learning tax law and a lot of people who are filing their taxes for the first time, especially students whose parents have always done it for them,” said Chelsea Smith, 25, a florist from Jamaica Plain.

Nicki Ruiz, 29, a nonprofit worker from Bay Village, said she already did her taxes and people should have them filed before the deadline.

“If you’re putting it off until the day that it’s due, … you should be getting them done before then,” she said.

Ruiz said she understands the extension could be valuable for the victims of the bombings.

“For other people it was definitely a distracting day,” she said. “It was hard to focus.”