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Title 26 — Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-73

§6513 Time return deemed filed and tax considered paid

Title 26 › Subtitle Subtitle F— - Procedure and Administration › Chapter CHAPTER 66— - LIMITATIONS › Subchapter Subchapter B— - Limitations on Credit or Refund › § 6513

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Treats certain tax returns and payments as if they were filed or paid on the final due date when figuring time limits under section 6511 and section 6512. If you file a return or pay any part of a tax before its last required day, it must be treated as filed or paid on that last day. The last day is figured without counting any extension or any choice to pay in installments. Withholding and estimated payments have special rules. Taxes actually withheld under chapter 24 are treated as paid by the recipient on the 15th day of the fourth month after the close of their taxable year. Estimated tax payments are treated as paid on the last day for filing the return under section 6012. Taxes withheld under chapter 3 or 4 are treated as paid on that same filing date for purposes of credits under sections 1462 or 1474(b). For chapters 3, 4, 21, and 24, returns or payments made before April 15 of the next year are treated as made on April 15. Overpayments applied as a credit to next year’s estimated tax count as payment for that next year and cannot be refunded for the earlier year. Payments under chapter 23 made for quarters within a year and paid before the annual filing due date are treated as paid on that annual filing date.

Full Legal Text

Title 26, §6513

Internal Revenue Code — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)For purposes of section 6511, any return filed before the last day prescribed for the filing thereof shall be considered as filed on such last day. For purposes of section 6511(b)(2) and (c) and section 6512, payment of any portion of the tax made before the last day prescribed for the payment of the tax shall be considered made on such last day. For purposes of this subsection, the last day prescribed for filing the return or paying the tax shall be determined without regard to any extension of time granted the taxpayer and without regard to any election to pay the tax in installments.
(b)For purposes of section 6511 or 6512—
(1)Any tax actually deducted and withheld at the source during any calendar year under chapter 24 shall, in respect of the recipient of the income, be deemed to have been paid by him on the 15th day of the fourth month following the close of his taxable year with respect to which such tax is allowable as a credit under section 31.
(2)Any amount paid as estimated income tax for any taxable year shall be deemed to have been paid on the last day prescribed for filing the return under section 6012 for such taxable year (determined without regard to any extension of time for filing such return).
(3)Any tax withheld at the source under chapter 3 or 4 shall, in respect of the recipient of the income, be deemed to have been paid by such recipient on the last day prescribed for filing the return under section 6012 for the taxable year (determined without regard to any extension of time for filing) with respect to which such tax is allowable as a credit under section 1462 or 1474(b). For this purpose, any exemption granted under section 6012 from the requirement of filing a return shall be disregarded.
(c)Notwithstanding subsection (a), for purposes of section 6511 with respect to any tax imposed by chapter 3, 4, 21, or 24—
(1)If a return for any period ending with or within a calendar year is filed before April 15 of the succeeding calendar year, such return shall be considered filed on April 15 of such succeeding calendar year; and
(2)If a tax with respect to remuneration or other amount paid during any period ending with or within a calendar year is paid before April 15 of the succeeding calendar year, such tax shall be considered paid on April 15 of such succeeding calendar year.
(d)If any overpayment of income tax is, in accordance with section 6402(b), claimed as a credit against estimated tax for the succeeding taxable year, such amount shall be considered as a payment of the income tax for the succeeding taxable year (whether or not claimed as a credit in the return of estimated tax for such succeeding taxable year), and no claim for credit or refund of such overpayment shall be allowed for the taxable year in which the overpayment arises.
(e)Notwithstanding subsection (a), for purposes of section 6511 any payment of tax imposed by chapter 23 which, pursuant to section 6157, is made for a calendar quarter or other period within a calendar year shall, if made before the last day prescribed for filing the return for the calendar year (determined without regard to any extension of time for filing), be considered made on such last day.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2010—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 111–147, § 501(c)(4), inserted “or 4” after “chapter 3” and “or 1474(b)” after “section 1462”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–147, § 501(c)(5), inserted “4,” after “chapter 3,” in introductory provisions. 1988—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 100–647 struck out last sentence which read as follows: “Notwithstanding subsection (a), for purposes of section 6511, any payment of tax imposed by chapter 23A which, pursuant to section 6157, is made for a calendar quarter within a taxable period shall, if made before the last day prescribed for filing the return for the taxable period (determined without regard to any extension of time for filing), be considered made on such last day.” 1983—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 98–76 inserted provisions that notwithstanding subsection (a), for purposes of section 6511, any payment of tax imposed by chapter 23A which, pursuant to section 6157, is made for a calendar quarter within a taxable period shall, if made before the last day prescribed for filing the return for the taxable period (determined without regard to any extension of time for filing), be considered made on such last day. 1969—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 91–53 added subsec. (e). 1966—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 89–809, § 105(f)(1), designated existing provisions as pars. (1) and (2) and added par. (3). Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 89–809, § 105(f)(2), inserted reference to chapter 3 in provisions preceding par. (1) and “or other amount” after “remuneration” in par. (2).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2010 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 111–147 applicable to payments made after Dec. 31, 2012, with certain exceptions, see section 501(d)(1), (2) of Pub. L. 111–147, set out as a note under section 1471 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1988 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 100–647 applicable to remuneration paid after Dec. 31, 1988, see section 7106(d) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 3321 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1983 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 98–76 applicable to remuneration paid after June 30, 1986, see section 231(d) of Pub. L. 98–76, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 3321 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1969 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 91–53 applicable with respect to calendar years beginning after Dec. 31, 1969, see section 4(a) of Pub. L. 91–53, set out as an

Effective Date

note under section 6157 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1966 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 89–809 effective Nov. 13, 1966, see section 105(f)(4) of Pub. L. 89–809, set out as a note under section 6501 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

26 U.S.C. § 6513

Title 26 — Internal Revenue Code

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73