Community Corner
2011 Tax Filing Deadline Extension Gives Taxpayers Three Extra Days to File
Local tax accountant says don't be afraid to file for an extension if you've got a complicated return.
Procrastinators need not worry on April 15 as the IRS has extended the federal income tax filing deadline to Monday, April 18.
The initial announcement of the change came back in January when the Internal Revenue Service issued a statement saying the deadline would be delayed in observation of Emancipation Day, a holiday observed in the District of Columbia, which this year falls on Friday, April 15, the normal filing deadline.
"By law, District of Columbia holidays impact tax deadlines in the same way that federal holidays do; therefore, all taxpayers will have three extra days to file this year," IRS official said in a statement on their website.
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Additionally, any taxpayer who wishes to request a filing extension will now have until Oct. 17, 2011 to file their 2010 tax returns.
Ross Miller, of Miller Tax Services on York Blvd. in Highland Park stressed, however, that those who plan on filing extensions should at least pay an estimated amount based on what they paid last year by the deadline, in order to avoid having to pay interest to the IRS.
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"If it's a complicated return, then they should probably file an extension, but they should also pay an estimated tax that way they can avoid the penalties and interest on their debt to the IRS," Miller said.
Miller told Highland Park-Mount Washington Patch it's been a hectic couple of months for accountants, thanks to political wrangling in Washington D.C. He said that becuase Congress could not agree to extended tax cuts implemented under former President George W. Bush until mid-December, tax returns could not be e-filed until mid-February while the IRS updated tax guidance and saftware.
"It took a whole month away from people, for a whole month people couldn't file," he said.
The IRS has said they expect to receive more than 140 million income tax returns this year, and that they expect most of those to be filed on time, by the April 18 deadline.
The IRS statement also sought to reminded taxpayers that using the agencies online "e-file" system is currently the best way to make sure taxperys file accurate returns and receive their refund, rather my check or direct deposit, in a more timely manner than when filing by mail.
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