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01/02/2018

Back-dating payments?

Irma Celestino - Sandusky Co.

I am getting phone calls from tax payers who sent their payment of taxes (envelopes dated Dec. 28/29
Where they paid the full amounts to claim on the personal income taxes for 2017.  They are asking if we will backdate them since they sent them early but we received the payments today in the mail. 
I am not comfortable backdating anything since we received the checks in today’s mail.  The question is can I post them today with Friday’s date of Dec. 28?
 
Thank you!
 

Irma G. Celestino

Sandusky County Treasurer
 

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6 Comments

Dawn Cragon   on Tuesday 01/02/2018 at 02:46 PM

Oh Heck No! Our records reflect our cash activity the day WE recognize it. The same as those who mail their tax payments in on the due date the payment is credited on the day we receive and recognize it. It is between the tax payer and their accountant whether or not the check date or their evidence of mailing is applicable to the date paid. Not our issue!

Brad Cromes   on Tuesday 01/02/2018 at 02:53 PM

I'm with Dawn. I've advised folks that the only date we record is the date the payment was received (and we will not recognize the check date as valid). That goes for the folks who tried to postmark payments by 12/31 as well...we don't track those dates as a part of our regular course of business, so we can't verify (this is one of those "consult your tax professional" issues).

Kathy Kelich   on Tuesday 01/02/2018 at 02:59 PM

I am with Dawn and Brad. The answer is no.

Lou Ann Wannemacher   on Tuesday 01/02/2018 at 03:05 PM

I agree with Dawn as well. We discussed keeping the envelopes dates prior to the 30th, but decided that we are not their tax preparer and do not want to get in the middle of the IRS and the tax payer.

April Bowersock   on Wednesday 01/03/2018 at 08:00 AM

It is not our responsibility to see that payments issued in 2017 are posted in 2017. The IRS will determine whether or not a customer can claim the payment based on when the check was dated. This does not fall on our shoulders to be a watchdog.

John Coffield   on Thursday 01/04/2018 at 01:47 PM

Dawn & Brad both expressed our views. We will not backdate any payment.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the comments shown above are those of the individual comment authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of this organization.