Written By: Sarah Mearhoff | × This illustration shows the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Image courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ST. PAUL -- U.S. Senate Majority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., is introducing a bill to extend Americans' tax filing deadline from April 15 to July 15 in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Treasury Department has already announced that it will extend the 2019 tax payment deadline to July. But in a Thursday, March 19 news release from Thune's office, the South Dakota Republican said extending the filing deadline is important for taxpayers who need to travel in order to obtain tax documents, or meet with an accountant, but can't because of the COVID-19 outbreak.