If you haven’t filed your federal and Arizona tax returns, you’re in good company. Only about half of taxpayers have submitted returns so far. Here are answers to 10 questions you might have about filing tax returns, refunds and related topics.

When is the last day to file taxes in Arizona?

Both federal and Arizona returns are due April 18, instead of the normal April 15. If you can’t file by April 18, you may receive an automatic six-month extension by submitting IRS Form 4868 through irs.gov or by mailing it and having it postmarked by then. That will give you another six months to file, taking you to mid-October. That’s also true of Arizona extensions. Arizonans may use state Form 204 for an extension but don't need to submit this if filing a federal extension request with the IRS.

Only 44% of more than 1,000 respondents in a recent survey by Empower correctly identified April 18 as this year's tax deadline.

Can I delay paying any taxes owed?

No. An extension doesn’t provide more time to pay taxes owed, so you should do that by April 18 if you expect to have a tax liability. This means you should calculate your tax bill as closely as possible, and then you might want to overestimate the liability amount a bit to avoid incurring an underpayment penalty. The penalty for not filing at all usually is larger than filing late or underpaying, so it’s wise to file on time or file the extension form by April 18.

Have most people filed taxes by now?

Not quite. The IRS said it had received 80.7 million returns as of March 24, of the nearly 170 million or so it expects to receive. Nearly three in four returns so far have qualified for a refund, but that proportion likely will drop in the coming weeks, as most of the people seeking refunds probably have filed already so that they could receive their money faster.

Are tax refunds up or down from last year?

They are down. The average federal refund of $2,903 through March 24 is 11% lower than the $3,263 average refund at the same time last year. The decline for 2022 returns largely reflects the winding down or termination of several pandemic-relief tax benefits, such as an enhanced child tax credit and an enhanced credit for child and dependent care expenses. Also, people last year could claim a modest charitable deduction without itemizing. That break no longer is available.

How long will it take to get my federal, Arizona tax refunds?

The IRS says it issues most refunds on returns submitted electronically within 21 days, while refunds on mailed returns can take four weeks or more. You can get an update by clicking through the “Where’s my refund” tool at irs.gov. The IRS might reduce your refund if you owe past-due federal or state taxes, state unemployment compensation debts, child support, spousal support or certain other obligations. Also, the IRS might reduce your refund if it spots a mistake and corrects your return, though that also might result in a larger refund.

Do I even need to file a tax return?

Not necessarily. If your income is sufficiently low, filing is optional, though you still might want to do so if you had taxes withheld during the prior year or if you might qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit or other tax breaks. Singles below age 65 must file if their income in 2022 was at least $12,900, and those 65 or older must file with income at or above $14,700. For married couples below 65, filing is required on income of at least $25,900. If one spouse is 65 or older, filing is required at or above $27,300. If both spouses are 65 or older, the threshold is $28,700.

Where can I get help filing taxes in Arizona?

Many places. In addition to paid tax preparers and tax-preparation software, there are ways to file for free through irs.gov and its affiliated programs, such as VITA or Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, TCE or Tax Counseling for the Elderly and AARP Tax-Aide. Contact information, eligibility limits and other details about those three programs are at irs.gov.

So, too, for the Free File partnership, under which seven companies make their tax-preparation software available at no cost to people earning $73,000 or less. Interested taxpayers must sign up for that through the IRS website (irs.gov/freefile) to receive the free offers, which in some cases extend to state returns, too.

What about in-person tax assistance in Arizona?

If you need to speak to an IRS representative in person, the agency will offer free walk-in service on Saturday, April 8, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its Phoenix office at 4141 N. Central Ave. Free walk-in service also is available at that location on Saturday, May 13. Otherwise, you must make an appointment for in-person assistance, either at that IRS office or others in Mesa and Glendale. Call 1-844-545-5640 to make an appointment. For Arizona-return assistance, send an email to aztaxhelp@azdor.gov.

Where’s a good place to review tax rules?

The IRS lists its forms on irs.gov, as does the Arizona Department of Revenue at azdor.gov. For federal returns, a good overview document is Publication 17, which covers the many tax rules affecting individuals, provides a review of changes for the current filing season, lists income thresholds for filing and more.

What’s unusual about Arizona filing this year?

One thing is that the Arizona Department of Revenue recently indicated that it’s taking longer than usual to cash payments that taxpayers submit using paper checks. The agency said it’s taking up to 10 weeks or so to process payments made by check, and it requested that taxpayers not call in during that time. Taxpayers won’t accrue late-payment penalties for payments postmarked by the due date, even if checks aren’t cashed promptly.

Reach the writer at russ.wiles@arizonarepublic.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tax filing deadline in Arizona: What to know about refunds, extensions