Don’t lose track of what’s due — and when. Check our list of COVID-related due dates for deadlines postponed by the pandemic.
The coronavirus pandemic forced individuals, businesses, and government agencies to reevaluate everything from working environments to services offered.
Some deadlines that have normally been set in stone — when taxes are due, or when rent must be paid — were extended as the economy screeched to a halt.
To better keep track of what is due — and when — The Copper Courier put together a list of important deadlines related to COVID-19:
Tax Returns
The Internal Revenue Service extended it’s usual April 15 deadline to July 15 for individuals filing tax returns. The IRS is urging individuals who are owed a refund to file their taxes as soon as possible. Taxpayers who are unable to submit their taxes by July 15 can also request an additional extension.
Interest and penalties will begin to accrue on July 16, 2020 on any unpaid balances of income taxes due by individual taxpayers.
Eviction Moratorium
The Arizona Department of Housing offered Rental Eviction Prevention Assistance for renters facing eviction as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. ADOH has a questionnaire for Arizona residents to see if they qualify for rental payment assistance under the Arizona COVID Relief Program.
On March 24, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order delaying eviction orders for renters impacted by COVID-19. This included people who were either quarantining due to the coronavirus or were facing economic hardship as a result of the pandemic. That order was signed for 120 days, which means it will expire on July 23.
At the time, Ducey said, “Nobody should be forced out of their home because of COVID-19. This order is about protecting public health and providing relief to families impacted by this virus — whether through sickness or economic hardship.”
Unemployment Insurance Under CARES Act
On March 27, President Donald Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which approved 13 weeks of additional unemployment benefits for those who qualified under the newly-instated Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC). This extended monetary benefits to individuals whose regular unemployment would expire on or after July 6.
This emergency benefit gave most individuals on unemployment an additional $600 a week. This significant increase in traditional unemployment benefits expires on July 25.
U.S. Census 2020
The Census Bureau was also forced to make adjustments due to COVID-19, including delaying or adapting some of their usual operations to ensure the safety of both their staff and the public.
The Census Bureau was forced to halt person-to-person field activities and are currently incorporating guidelines by health officials as part of their adjusted operational plan. The official website says, “The Census Bureau is conducting a series of preparatory activities so we are fully ready to resume field activities as we continue to advance the mission of the 2020 Census to ensure a complete and accurate count.”
More than half of households across the U.S. have already responded to this year’s questionnaire, according to the official website. Responses will be collected by mail, online, and via phone through October 31.
Arizona Travel ID
The Department of Homeland Security announced on March 26 that they were extending the deadline for identification cards that complied with the REAL ID Act by a year.
This includes the AZ Travel ID, which will be required for all air travelers starting on Oct. 1, 2021. This comes as the Arizona Motor Vehicle Department tries to reduce customer traffic at its locations during the coronavirus pandemic.
In fact, all AZ Travel ID appointments have been canceled, according to ADOT. Travelers are encouraged to wait until the COVID-19 health crisis has passed to acquire the new AZ Travel ID.
Also, the expiration date has been automatically extended by six months for those with a driver’s license or permit that was set to expire between March 1 and September 1, 2020.
Alicia Barrón Alicia Barrón is a Reporter for Copper Courier and The Americano. She's from the border town of Nogales, Arizona and has worked in journalism for 20 years, starting at 3TV/azfamily. Most recently, she was a staff writer at Upworthy and BuzzFeed.
