# A Super Easy Tax Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 18, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-super-easy-tax-question/713016 "2015-02-18T16:34:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-super-easy-tax-question/713016/1 "2015-02-18T16:34:22Z")
I always file my taxes really early, and I always pay my owed taxes right away. However, this year after filing my taxes and owing more money than I originally thought I don’t really have the money to pay my state taxes right away. How long do I have? I think that I have until April 15th to send it off, but I don’t know if the shot clock starts when I file it, or if it’s always April ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-super-easy-tax-question/713016/2 "2015-02-18T16:37:11Z")
As I understand it you have until April 15th to pay your taxes regardless of when you file them, however it’s customary to include the payment at the time you file. Contact your state’s revenue department if you want to be 100% certain. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-super-easy-tax-question/713016/3 "2015-02-18T16:37:40Z")
It has got to depend on your state. But most of them allow a payment plan. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-super-easy-tax-question/713016/4 "2015-02-18T17:52:45Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I always file my taxes really early, and I always pay my owed taxes right away. > > However, this year after filing my taxes and owing more money than I originally thought I don’t really have the money to pay my state taxes right away. How long do I have? I think that I have until April 15th to send it off, but I don’t know if the shot clock starts when I file it, or if it’s always April A super easy tax question about state taxes would include which state we’re talking about. Instead you’ve asked an impossible tax question. Or looking at it another way, you’ve asked 50 easy questions and invited us to guess which of the 49 are not wastes of our time. Help us help you. ---
**Author:** ![I.Dunno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I.Dunno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I.Dunno)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-super-easy-tax-question/713016/5 "2015-02-18T18:31:14Z")
Go to your state’s website or look at a tax form/instructions and see what it says. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-super-easy-tax-question/713016/6 "2015-02-18T18:38:04Z")
I think the OP lives in NC. Just file on 4/15 with a check. Sending the payment earlier than you need to is not the best way to go. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-super-easy-tax-question/713016/7 "2015-02-18T19:36:06Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > I think the OP lives in NC. > > Just file on 4/15 with a check. Sending the payment earlier than you need to is not the best way to go. You’re correct on my state. I’ve technically already filed (I have gotten my federal return in my account already), but I think that this is the way to go when it comes to sending the check. These last couple months have been hard for me money-wise, but I’ll be caught up come March/April. I’ll just send it then. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Keeve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f07891/32.png) [@Keeve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeve)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-super-easy-tax-question/713016/8 "2015-02-19T02:49:06Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > You’re correct on my state. I’ve technically already filed (I have gotten my federal return in my account already),… What do you mean to say by adding the word “technically”? Do you think that filing the federal return means that you’ve technically filed the state return too? I’m very confused. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-super-easy-tax-question/713016/9 "2015-02-19T04:49:48Z")
If you e-file, which is what most people do today, you generally get the option (for federal and every state I’ve seen) to pay by mail in voucher. And many options default to sending federal and state together, but I don’t believe that’s mandatory. They _should_ not expect a payment with the return, and the OP should file ASAP (saves headaches later) and pay when he can, before April 15. If it will still be tough, look into the payment plan ahead of time. And consider paying estimated taxes next year? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-super-easy-tax-question/713016/10 "2015-02-19T18:28:07Z")
> [@Keeve](#): > > What do you mean to say by adding the word “technically”? Do you think that filing the federal return means that you’ve technically filed the state return too? I’m very confused. Yeah I guess I shouldn’t have used the word technically. I have already filed and… > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > If you e-file, which is what most people do today, you generally get the option (for federal and every state I’ve seen) to pay by mail in voucher. And many options default to sending federal and state together, but I don’t believe that’s mandatory. They _should_ not expect a payment with the return, and the OP should file ASAP (saves headaches later) and pay when he can, before April 15. If it will still be tough, look into the payment plan ahead of time. And consider paying estimated taxes next year? …done the “pay by mail” option. I’m not about to pay on April 15th, I’ll do it sometime in March just to hedge my bets a bit. Shouldn’t take TOO long to build up my bank account again ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-super-easy-tax-question/713016/11 "2015-02-19T19:52:57Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I’ve technically already filed (I have gotten my federal return in my account already), OK, I hate to do this but you asked for it my ticking one of my pet peeves. The **RETURN** is the form you filed with the IRS and state. The **REFUND** is what was deposited in your account. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-super-easy-tax-question/713016/12 "2015-02-19T20:10:20Z")
Oh, and here I honest-to-god thought they were both called “return”. Look at that, ignorance fought ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-super-easy-tax-question/713016/13 "2015-02-19T20:23:09Z")
OK, now you know. I wish the idiots on the local commercials would figure it out. Drives me nuts, it does. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-super-easy-tax-question/713016/14 "2015-02-20T16:42:22Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > OK, I hate to do this but you asked for it my ticking one of my pet peeves. > > The **RETURN** is the form you filed with the IRS and state. The **REFUND** is what was deposited in your account. …and what do you call it when it is neither a refund or a return of something that you paid in? (My own little pet peeve.) ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-super-easy-tax-question/713016/15 "2015-02-20T18:50:16Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > …and what do you call it when it is neither a refund or a return of something that you paid in? > > (My own little pet peeve.) Refundable credit, if you mean stuff that comes after line 63 on the 1040. ---
**Author:** ![Zulema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/db5fbb/32.png) [@Zulema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zulema)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-super-easy-tax-question/713016/16 "2015-02-21T05:57:07Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I’m not about to pay on April 15th, I’ll do it sometime in March just to hedge my bets a bit. Shouldn’t take TOO long to build up my bank account again In most cases your mailed payment just has to be postmarked by the due date not delivered. Check your voucher, it might say to mail the check by the due date. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-super-easy-tax-question/713016/17 "2015-02-21T06:57:10Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > OK, I hate to do this but you asked for it my ticking one of my pet peeves. > > The **RETURN** is the form you filed with the IRS and state. The **REFUND** is what was deposited in your account. Language is determined by the speakers of it, not what’s written in a dictionary. I work at a bank and the vast majority of our customers call it a tax return. If this annoyed me, I’d have gone crazy about 2 weeks ago! ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2015, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-super-easy-tax-question/713016/18 "2015-02-21T08:48:17Z")
> [@Rachellelogram](#): > > Language is determined by the speakers of it, not what’s written in a dictionary. I work at a bank and the vast majority of our customers call it a tax return. If this annoyed me, I’d have gone crazy about 2 weeks ago! There’s got to be a middle ground between pedantic prescriptivism and “1337 is a valid spelling” descriptivism. They’re absolutely wrong because that’s not how the IRS defines it, and they’re all that matters. But that doesn’t mean that you have a duty to correct every person you meet.