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The state’s income tax deadline has been extended after days of speculation whether Massachusetts would follow the federal government’s lead.

The federal deadline was shifted to July 15 last week in an effort to help individuals and businesses facing unemployment or cashflow shortfalls due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The Baker administration announced Friday morning the state would be extending its income tax deadline from April 15 to July 15, as well.

“Massachusetts will move the state personal income tax filing and payment deadline to July 15, consistent with the federal government, in order to provide additional flexibility to filers during this crisis,” Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement. “In partnership with our colleagues in the legislature, we are committed to providing this flexibility to taxpayers in a way that protects the commonwealth’s strong fiscal footing that we have all worked hard to develop over the past several years.”

To pay for the extension, the administration will be filing legislation soon to give the state borrowing flexibility to manage deferred revenue this fiscal year and repay it in the next fiscal year, which starts July 1.

“The top priority during this public health crisis is to address the immediate needs facing our residents,” Senate President Karen E. Spilka said in a statement. “Our message is clear: residents should stay home and avoid social contact to be safe. Extending the tax deadline helps us accomplish that goal and provides peace of mind.”

Questions or concerns regarding taxes should be directed to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue at (617) 887-6367 or send a secure electronic message through MassTaxConnect, the Baker administration says.

The administration had come under pressure to move the state’s deadline back ever since federal officials’ move on March 20.

Paul Craney, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, said that state officials urging residents to stay home while also still requiring taxes to be filed by April 15 is “tone deaf.”

“Anything the Governor can do to help people keep more of their money at this time should be pursued,” Craney said in a statement. “By extending the deadline to mirror the Federal level, people will have more funds to pay for essential costs in these trying times. What’s more, people won’t be forced to leave their homes and risk infection to comply with the demands of a tone-deaf state government. This will end up saving the state money in the long term.”

Amy Pitter, a former commissioner of the Department of Revenue and the president of Massachusetts Society of the Certified Public Accountants, said earlier this week that the state should push back the tax filing deadline immediately.

“The silence from Massachusetts has been deafening,” Pitter said.

Tax accountants, like the rest of the workforce, are adjusting to a remote work life, which had made the processing of taxes less efficient.

“The pressure on our members is intense. It’s always intense this time of year, but I would say, and I can say it confidently, they can’t get it done,” Pitter said.

The State House News Service contributed to this report.