State Department of Revenue personnel say they are working as fast as they can to get their systems up and ready to accept 2021 tax returns, but they just can’t do it right now.

Taxpayers in North Carolina are automatically eligible to file and pay their taxes later this year. The new deadline isThursday, May 1 to file both federal and state taxes.

The Direct File tool will be available for North Carolina residents to submit tax returns directly to the IRS.