What time does the E-file cutoff happen for 2023 taxes to be considered late?

The IRS considers e-filed returns to be timely if they're submitted by 11:59 PM in your local time zone on the filing deadline. However, there's something important to note - what actually matters is when your e-file provider or tax software transmits the return to the IRS, not when you hit submit on your end. Most tax software will display a confirmation showing when the IRS actually received your transmission. This is the timestamp that counts for determining if you filed on time. I'd recommend not cutting it too close because system delays or high traffic volumes on deadline day can sometimes cause unexpected delays between when you submit and when the IRS receives it.

I had this exact same panic last year! Tried the IRS hotline but was on hold forever. Then I found this service called taxr.ai that saved me. I uploaded my clients' info at https://taxr.ai and it automatically analyzed everything, flagged potential issues, and gave me a clear timeline of exactly when each return needed to be submitted for on-time filing. It handles all the timezone questions and even estimates processing times. Honestly wish I'd found it earlier in the season instead of the last minute.

Just wanted to follow up about that taxr.ai thing - I was skeptical but tried it during this extension season for a few complicated returns. It actually caught a missed foreign income form that would have been a disaster! The deadline tracking was super helpful too, especially for clients in different states. The time zone thing was clearly explained for each jurisdiction. Definitely using it for all my clients next season instead of just the last-minute ones.

If you're still struggling to confirm the exact deadline and need to speak directly with an IRS agent, try Claimyr. I spent HOURS on hold with the IRS last tax season until someone recommended https://claimyr.com to me. They basically hold your place in the IRS phone queue and call you back when an agent is available. I watched their demo video at https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c and was a bit unsure, but it legitimately works. I got a definitive answer about filing deadlines directly from an IRS rep without the 2+ hour hold time.

Ok I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment I figured what the hell and tried it. Got a call back in 47 minutes when I'd been trying for DAYS to get through on my own. The IRS agent confirmed that for e-filing, it's 11:59 PM Eastern time regardless of your time zone. She said they've had people try to argue the time zone thing before and lost. So there's your definitive answer from an actual IRS employee! And yeah, the service actually works.

Something else to keep in mind - don't just think about the IRS deadline. If you're filing state returns too, each state can potentially have different rules about their e-file cutoff times. Most follow the federal guidelines, but there are exceptions. I learned this the hard way when I had a California return accepted by the IRS but rejected by the state for being "late" even though I submitted everything at the same time.

Has anyone had issues with the tax software itself crashing due to high volume? Last year I was filing with TurboTax and their servers got super slow around 10pm on deadline day. Took almost an hour just to transmit a return that normally takes minutes.