LAKEWOOD, Ohio — Time is running out.
Wednesday is the last day to file taxes under the extended July 15 deadline. The traditional April 15 filing date was pushed to provide relief due to the coronavirus outbreak.
But the rush to meet that deadline is creating some chaos at local tax offices.
“Typically, I don’t wait until the last minute but this year you know of course things were crazy,” said Lakewood resident Steven Pappas.
News 5 watched as Pappas and several other Lakewood residents tried to get to the city’s tax office before closing time on Tuesday, but some they had no luck.
“I heard there were a lot of people that there was a line here earlier,” Pappas said. “I did my federal, my state and now I just have to drop off my local and now I’m done.”
Some were forced to drop off their 2019 city income tax filings into an after-hours box, while others hoped to come back Wednesday.
“The procrastinators are coming in tomorrow so it will be hectic,” said Patricia Chittock, Assistant Finance Director for the City of Lakewood.
Lakewood followed the IRS and the state of Ohio and extended its tax deadline to July 15.
Since Friday, the city’s team has been busy completing last-minute filings with lines out the door.
“We’ve done a lot of postcard mailings a little bit more than normal just trying to remind our residence that hey the big days coming,” Chittock said. “We’re waiting to just get through it I guess.”
If you’re filing city income taxes in Lakewood, Chittock is reminding residents to bring a W2 form and IRS filings.
For those who can’t meet Wednesday’s deadline, you can file an extension until October 15. However, filing an extension doesn’t mean you’re off the hook for paying any owed balances.
