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Title 26, Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-110

§6513 Time Return Deemed Filed and Tax Considered Paid

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

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Treats early tax returns and early payments as if they were made on the last day they were due. If you file a return or pay any part of a tax before its due date, the law counts the filing or payment as made on the final due date. That final due date is figured without counting any extension or a choice to pay in installments. For some payroll and withholding taxes tied to a calendar year, if the return or payment is made before April 15 of the next year, it is treated as filed or paid on April 15. One-line descriptions: tax withheld under chapter 24 — income tax taken from pay and sent to the government; estimated income tax — payments made ahead for the year; tax withheld under chapter 3 or 4 — tax taken from certain payments and sent to the government. Withheld tax under chapter 24 is treated as paid on the 15th day of the fourth month following the close of the taxpayer’s year. Estimated payments and many other withholdings are treated as paid on the regular return due date (no extensions). An overpayment applied to next year’s estimated tax counts as a payment for that next year and cannot be refunded for the earlier year. Payments of Federal unemployment tax made during a year but paid before the year’s return due date are treated as paid on that last day.

Full Legal Text

Title 26, §6513

Internal Revenue Code, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Early return or advance payment of tax
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)Prepaid income tax
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)Return and payment of social security taxes and income tax withholding
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)Overpayment of income tax credited to estimated tax
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)Payments of Federal unemployment tax
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

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110