Uncle Sam gives income-tax filers 3-day extension

By Peter H. Milliken

milliken@vindy.com

YOUNGSTOWN

The IRS wants people to know they will get a little more time to file their income tax returns this year.

The filing deadline will be extended from the usual midnight April 15 deadline to midnight April 18 to file a timely, accurate and complete federal income tax return.

That’s because Washington, D.C., observes Emancipation Day as an annual legal holiday on April 16. Because April 16 is a Saturday this year, the holiday will be observed April 15.

On April 16, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves in Washington, D.C., nine months before issuing the Emancipation Proclamation that freed all slaves in this country.

Any tax return postmarked on April 18 or e-filed at or before 11:59 p.m. that day will be considered on time.

Last-minute filers using the U.S. Postal Service must make sure to affix sufficient postage because the IRS doesn’t pay postage due, and forms with insufficient postage will be returned to sender and considered late, said Jennifer Jenkins, IRS media relations specialist for Ohio.

Those who can’t meet the deadline can get an automatic six-month extension by filing Form 4868, and they don’t need to give a reason for seeking the extension.

Jenkins said, however, the extension is only for time to file, not to pay taxes due. Therefore, taxpayers requesting an extension should try to pay any taxes they owe as fully as possible by April 18 to avoid interest charges, Jenkins said.

Those who can’t pay because of a financial hardship should contact the IRS. “We’ll work with them to make things easier, perhaps through an installment agreement,” Jenkins said.

The IRS maintains a full-time taxpayer-assistance center at the Nathaniel Jones Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, 10 E. Commerce St., in downtown Youngstown.

The IRS also sponsors the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which provides free tax assistance to low- and moderate-income people, generally those with annual incomes of $49,000 or less, who cannot prepare their own tax returns.

Those seeking tax help at a VITA site must bring proof of identification, Social Security cards and individual taxpayer identification numbers and birth dates for themselves, their spouses and dependents; wage and earnings statements from all employers; interest and dividend statements from banks; and, if available, copies of last year’s federal and state tax returns.

“There are a lot of credits that people should claim if they’re entitled to,” Jenkins said.

“Report the income that you’ve received, and take the credits and deductions that you’re entitled to take.”

Credits include the Earned Income Tax Credit for low- and moderate-income workers, the Child Tax Credit, the Child and Dependent Care Credit, the American Opportunity Tax Credit for college and vocational school tuitions and expenses, the Lifetime Learning Credit for graduate school expenses, and credits for energy-efficient home improvements and electric-vehicle purchases.

April 18 is not only the deadline to file tax returns; it’s also the last day for nearly 1.1 million Americans who didn’t file a 2007 tax return to file one so they can collect refunds totaling more than $1.1 billion, Jenkins said.

That includes more than 33,000 Ohioans due potential refunds totaling more than $30 million. Half of the potential Ohio refunds are estimated to be $620 or more, Jenkins said.

If no 2007 return is filed on or before April 18, the unclaimed refund money goes to the U.S. Treasury, she added.

The IRS imposes no penalty for filing a late return qualifying for a refund, but the 2007 refund checks won’t be released to those who haven’t filed 2008 and 2009 tax returns, she said.