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The IRS Reminds Taxpayers of Recent Changes, Extends Deadline

By wmadministrator

The Internal Revenue Service has announced that taxpayers will have until Monday, April 18 to file their 2010 tax returns and pay any taxes due.

The change from the traditional April 15 deadline is because Emancipation Day, a holiday observed in the District of Columbia, falls on April 15 this year. (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.) The Kentucky Department of Revenue has announced that Kentucky will follow the federal filing date. Therefore, Kentucky income tax returns will also be due on April 18 rather than April 15.

Because of recent tax law changes enacted by Congress and signed by President Obama in December, the IRS has been reprogramming its processing systems, meaning that some taxpayers will need to wait until mid- to late February to file their taxes. Affected taxpayers include those claiming itemized deductions (mortgage interest, charitable deductions, medical/dental expenses, and state and local taxes); those claiming higher education tuition and fees deductions; and those claiming the educator expense deduction.

The delay affects both paper and electronic filings. However, the IRS is urging taxpayers to use e-file instead of paper tax forms to minimize confusion and ensure accurate tax returns.