| Are you one of those procrastinators who still hasn't filed their taxes?
Well, you may take some comfort in knowing you are far from alone. In fact, as many as 33% of Americans wait until the very last minute. The reasons taxpayers put it off vary — 40% say filing is too time-consuming, 22% said it's too stressful and another 22% want to make sure they're filing correctly.
Taxpayers just go into avoidance mode, particularly if they think they might own money, certified financial planner Phyllis Jo Kubey explained to CNBC's Kate Dore.
"And I think that is absolutely the worst strategy," she said.
No matter the reasoning for the delay, it's now time to get off the couch, turn off the TV, put the ice cream back in the freezer and get working on those taxes because the clock is ticking. There's less than four weeks until the April 18 tax deadline.
If procrastinators need some motivation, here are a few things to consider: Even if you owe money, it's important to send your return on time or file for an extension to avoid the failure-to-file penalty, which is 5% of unpaid taxes for each month until filing, capped at 25%. By comparison, the failure-to-pay fee is 0.5% per month, plus interest.
What's more, while an extension prevents the failure-to-file penalty, you'll still need to pay taxes owed by April 18 to avoid extra penalties and interest.
The bottom line: Delaying or not filing at all is a bad strategy.
For more cool stuff like this, be sure to visit CNBC's Financial Advisor Hub and CNBC + Acorns Invest in You: Ready. Set. Grow. |
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