My mother is a writer. My father was a writer. I’m the co-author of three books. My whole family are voracious readers. Yet I failed reading comprehension 101 when I looked at a set of instructions for a California tax form.
So I read the following: “You must pay 100% of the amount you owe by April 15, 2011, to avoid interest and underpayment penalties.” Well, I thought the FTB didn’t realize that the deadline for federal tax returns was three days later. Woe on me, as I might have been wiser if I read the whole paragraph:
You must pay 100% of the amount you owe by April 15, 2011, to avoid interest and underpayment penalties. Due to the federal Emancipation Day holiday on April 15, 2011, tax returns and payments received on April 18, 2011, will be considered timely. [Emphasis Added.]
My thanks to Susan Maples of the FTB for letting me know of my error.
You’d still better mail the payment 4/15 or earlier – check your comprehension the second time around as well: payments RECEIVED on April 18, 2011, will be considered timely.
No true — If it was postmarked by the 18th it was considered timely.