WASHINGTON—The U.S. extended the April 15 tax-filing deadline to July 15, an unprecedented delay that will give people more time to prepare and pay their taxes as workers lose jobs and businesses close during the coronavirus pandemic.

“All taxpayers and businesses will have this additional time to file and make payments without interest or penalties,” Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Twitter.

The change delays all individual and business federal income tax filings and payments that are due on April 15, according to an Internal Revenue Service notice. That includes 2019 tax returns as well as estimated taxes for the first quarter of 2020. Taxpayers don’t need to file forms seeking extensions, and there is no cap on the amount of taxes that can be deferred.

The change doesn’t affect payroll taxes, estate taxes or excise taxes, and it doesn’t affect estimated taxes due on June 15.

Earlier this week, the IRS said that most taxpayers could defer payments until July but would still have to file their tax returns or seek extensions by April 15. That announcement drew quick criticism from lawmakers and tax preparers, who warned that they couldn’t get those filings done or would have to risk their safety and health to do it.