Will the shutdown affect the extension deadline? The short answer is yes, but the October 15th tax extension deadline won’t be shifting. The IRS will prioritize filing season preparation for next year as well as support for critical activities, and IRS resources may not be available for other activities. So, what can you do? Prioritize > Panic Your best bet is to file your return A.S.A.P. to get it in before the backlogs get any worse. The best part? We can help you get everything done quickly and mistake-free. All tax situations are different. Not everyone gets a refund. See hrblock.com/guarantees for complete details.