The IRS just gave NC residents an even later tax deadline, now in early fall
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) extended the deadline again for North Carolinians to file and pay federal tax returns, due to the lingering effects of Hurricane Helene.
North Carolina taxpayers now have until Thursday, Sept. 25.
“The Internal Revenue Service today further postponed until Sept. 25, 2025, a wide range of tax deadlines for taxpayers throughout North Carolina. Previously, the deadline had been May 1, 2025, for Form 1040 filers, among many others,” an IRS release from Thursday, April 17 says.
NC tax deadline
“The IRS is offering this additional relief to any area designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This means that individuals and households that reside or have a business anywhere in North Carolina qualify for tax relief,” the IRS’ release says.
The IRS says the new deadline applies to:
Individual income tax returns and payments normally due on April 15, 2025.
2024 contributions to IRAs and health savings accounts for eligible taxpayers.
2024 quarterly estimated tax payments normally due on Jan. 15, 2025, and 2025 estimated tax payments normally due on April 15, June 16 and Sept. 15, 2025.
Quarterly payroll and excise tax returns normally due on Oct. 31, 2024, and Jan. 31, April 30 and July 31, 2025.
Calendar-year corporation and fiduciary returns and payments normally due on April 15, 2025.
Calendar-year tax-exempt organization returns normally due on May 15, 2025.
990, 1040, 1041 and 1120 filers with a valid extension for tax year 2023. Please note, the payments on these returns are not eligible because they were due last spring before the hurricane.
State tax deadlines in NC
North Carolina residents have until Thursday, May 1 to file and pay their income taxes without penalties, according to a recent news release from the NC Department of Revenue.
Individuals residing in counties not designated as disaster areas will incur interest charges if they pay after the Tax Day deadline: “Interest on an underpayment of tax for a non-disaster county will begin to accrue on April 15, 2025,” Dia Harris, public affairs director for the NCDOR, told The News & Observer in an email.
The Charlotte Observer contacted NCDOR to learn if the state tax deadline would also be extended, but had not heard back by the time of publication.
How to check tax refund status
Those who file online can check the status of their returns after 24 hours have passed from the file date.
This can be done on the IRS2Go app or through the “Where’s My Refund?” tool on the IRS website. You can also check on the status of your state refund by going to The North Carolina Department of Revenue site (ncdor.gov) and clicking “Where’s My Refund?”
If it has been at least four weeks since you filed a paper return, you can check on the status of your refund by calling the IRS TeleTax System at 1-800-829-4477. You will be asked to provide the first Social Security number shown on the return, your filing status and the amount of the refund. If the IRS has processed your return, the system will tell you the date your refund will be sent.
Tax refunds could be delayed
President Trump signed an executive order in January that enacted a hiring freeze for federal employees, including those in the IRS, The Charlotte Observer previously reported. That means the IRS could be short-staffed during filing season.
Trump signed another executive order that forced all federal employees who work remotely to return the office. This move could result in a wave of early retirements, Nina Olson, executive director of the Center for Taxpayer Rights, told the Journal of Accountancy.
Some tax returns can take longer to process for many reasons, the IRS says, including when a return:
Is sent by mail
Contains errors or is incomplete
Is affected by identity theft or fraud
Was referred to the IRS by the bank due to suspicious activity
Includes a claim filed for an Earned Income Tax Credit or an Additional Child Tax Credit
Includes a Form 8379, Injured Spouse Allocation, which could take up to 14 weeks to process
Needs further review in general
If more information is needed to process returns, the IRS will contact those taxpayers by mail.
This story was originally published April 18, 2025 at 2:31 PM.
