Turbo Tax unable to accept returns at this time???? Does this make me late?

Question

I have been trying to file since 9:00PM CST and keep getting the following message: <<<

The Intuit Electronic Filing Center is experiencing unusually heavy demand and is unable to accept returns at this time. It's not necessary to contact Customer Service or technical Support. Instead, please try to file you return again later. The best time to file electronically is usually between 4:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Pacific time. We apologize for the inconvenience. >>>
I have all ready charged the $16.95 to my visa, but if they do not let me file until 4:00 AM PST won't my return be late?

Answer 1

I received this e-mail at 3pm pacific time today (4/18/07)

Dear CalCPA member:

Taxpayers or tax professionals who were unable to e-file their tax returns Tuesday using Intuit Inc. software products have until midnight Thursday, April 19, to file their returns, the IRS announced Wednesday. And the IRS will not apply late filing penalties to taxpayers who were affected by this problem.

According to the IRS, potentially up to several hundred thousand last-minute tax filers were affected by company server problems on Tuesday evening, and they or their accountants may have been unable to electronically file returns.

Intuit confirmed that those problems have been resolved, and was successfully accepting e-file returns Wednesday. The company said affected taxpayers and tax professionals include those using “TurboTax,” “ProSeries,” “Lacerte” and Intuit’s Free File offering,“TurboTax Freedom.”

Answer 2

I filed with turbo tax free edition on the 14th and mine has been accepted through the irs. Where's my refund website says it'll be direct deposited by 1/31/12 turbo tax says 1/25/12.

Answer 3

Yes, you'll be late. If you're getting a refund it's no big deal. If you owe you'll be stuck with late filing penalties. One more reason to not wait until the last minute to file.

Even if they are able to accept and transmit your return you'll STILL be late as the date and time that the IRS accepts your return is the filing date and time, NOT the time that it's transmitted though the processor. It takes about 24 hours for the IRS to accept or reject a return so one filed in the waning hours of the deadline will usually be late as far as the IRS is concerned.

Answer 4

Intuit is telling their TurboTax customers to efile. The IRS will consider those affected by the TT server slowdown as having filed on time.

Answer 5

Yes, your return will be late. About the only option I can think of is to mail your returns at a post office that is open until midnight. You can try to recover your $16.95 later, or you can write it off on next year's tax returns.

Answer 6

if uncle sugar owes you a return April 15 is a point of irrelevance. they don't really care how long they keep your money. It's just more interest for them. If you owe uncle sugar more this is a different story.

Answer 7

Yes, it'll be late. If you don't owe, there won't be any penalty. If you owe, there will be but it won't be much.

Such are the perils of waiting until the last minute.