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IRS says PPE can be written off, after millions of Americans file 2020 taxes

COVID-19 mask generic
Posted at 1:57 PM, Mar 29, 2021
and last updated 2021-03-29 17:04:26-04

The IRS says that 2020 expenses on masks, hand sanitizer and other personal protective equipment can be deducted from last year’s taxes.

The announcement came last week, after millions have already filed their taxes for the year.

The IRS clarified that these expenses count as “medical care.”

The IRS also clarified that amounts paid for personal protective equipment are also eligible to be paid or reimbursed under health flexible spending arrangements (health FSAs), Archer medical savings accounts (Archer MSAs), health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), or health savings accounts (HSAs).

The IRS outlines how to amend a return here.

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The filing deadline to submit 2021 tax returns or an extension to file and pay tax owed is Monday, April 18, 2022, for most taxpayers. By law, Washington, D.C., holidays impact tax deadlines for everyone in the same way federal holidays do. The due date is April 18, instead of April 15, because of the Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia for everyone except taxpayers who live in Maine or Massachusetts. Taxpayers in Maine or Massachusetts have until April 19, 2022, to file their returns due to the Patriots' Day holiday in those states. Taxpayers requesting an extension will have until Monday, October 17, 2022, to file.