What To Do If You Miss Today's Tax Deadline

LONG ISLAND, NY — If you put off filing your tax return until the last minute, you're not alone — the Internal Revenue Service says it received more than 5 million tax returns on the final day last year. But time is running out for all the procrastinators, as this year's federal and state returns are due Tuesday, April 17.

Filling out those IRS forms is never fun, but it can put some extra money in your pocket if you're eligible for a refund. And there are plenty of free ways to do it online.

Here are a few tips on what to do if you still need to file your returns — and what to do if you miss Tuesday's deadline.

How To File

The IRS offers a "Free File" program for anyone with an income below $66,000. So does H&R Block. TurboTax has a free edition that anyone can use to file federal returns, but there's a charge for state returns.
You can also pay for other software, or hire a tax preparer to handle things for you.

The IRS recommends filing electronically because computer programs do calculations themselves and flag errors for the user. Regardless of how you file, the IRS says it's good to gather all your necessary documents and check your return for mistakes, as they could delay refunds.

If you decide to use old-fashioned paper forms, the IRS offers these tips to help:

• Fill in all requested Taxpayer Identification Numbers, usually Social Security numbers, including all dependents claimed on the tax return. Check only one filing status and the appropriate exemption boxes.
• When using the tax tables, be sure to use the correct row and column for the filing status claimed and taxable income amount shown.
• Sign and date the return. If filing a joint return, both spouses must sign.
• Mail the return to the right address. Check Where to File on IRS.gov.

How To Get An Extension

Tuesday is also the last day to request a six-month extension using IRS Form 4868. That form can be filed through the IRS Free File program or by mail as long as it's postmarked on or before April 17. The IRS expects to get more than 14 million requests for extensions.

Filers who pay all or part of their estimated income tax before filing their return can get an extension without filing Form 4868 as long as they indicate that an extension is the reason for the payment. April 17 is generally the hard deadline for tax payments, so paying on time will reduce or eliminate interest and late fees on any payments made after Tuesday.

What To Do If You Miss The Deadline

You can still file your tax return after the deadline, but you won't be able to request an extension if you haven't already and you'll be hit with interest and late-payment penalties, according to H&R Block. The IRS charges 5 percent annual interest, compounded daily, and a typical late-payment penalty of 0.5 percent per month, so it's best to get the return in as soon as possible.

How To Track Your Refund

The IRS says it issues nine of every 10 refunds in less than three weeks. But if you just have to know where your money is, you can use the IRS's "Where's My Refund?" website or download the IRS2Gomobile app.
Direct deposit is the safest and fastest way to get your refund, the IRS says.

How To Avoid Tax Scams

Scammers have been known to threaten vulnerable taxpayers around filing time. Email is a common method, but so are phone calls, as NPR reported last week.

The IRS will generally try to reach you first by paper mail rather than over the phone or by email. The agency also won't threaten to have you arrested, take your credit or debit card number over the phone, or demand you pay without giving you a chance to appeal the amount. So if you get a strange email or phone call from the "IRS," it's probably best to ignore it.

(Lead image: Photo from Shutterstock)