The IRS says it is aware of a third-party software issue affecting qualifying farmers and fishermen attempting to electronically file Forms 7203.

Qualifying farmers and fishermen are those who are not subject to an addition to tax for failing to pay the required estimated tax installment payment by January 15, 2022, if they file their returns and pay the full amount of tax reported on the return as payable by March 1, 2022.

The IRS has been working closely with software providers to ease the impact on qualifying farmers and fishermen caused by electronic filing challenges in connection with Form 7203.

Due to these challenges, the Treasury Department and the IRS intend to issue a notice providing penalty relief for qualifying farmers and fishermen filing Forms 7203 if they electronically file their 2021 tax return and pay in full any tax due by April 18, 2022, or by April 19, 2022, for those qualifying farmers and fishermen who live in Maine or Massachusetts.

Farmers and fishermen who filed their returns by the March 1 deadline are unaffected by this news release.