WASHINGTON, DC --
Taxpayers will get a few extra days to file their taxes this year thanks to something that happened back in 1862.
Tax deadline day is April 17 this year instead of the usual April 15. You'll get the extension to file your taxes this year because of Emancipation Day. The nation's Capitol will celebrate the emancipation of slaves, and you'll get a few extra days to get your 2011 tax return to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Taxpayers requesting an extension will have until October 15 to file their returns.
This is not the first time Emancipation Day has impacted the tax deadline. It extended filing in 2006 and last year.
The IRS wants to remind you that e-filing is the best way to ensure accurate tax returns and get faster refunds. The agency is also announcing several improvements to help make tax season easier this year. The improvements include new navigation features and helpful information on the IRS's website and a new pilot to allow taxpayers to use interactive video to get help with tax issues.
"At the IRS, we're working hard to make the process of filing your taxes as quick and easy as possible," said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. "Providing quality service is one of our top priorities. It not only reduces the burden on taxpayers, but also helps in filing an accurate return right from the start."
The IRS expects an estimated 144 million individual tax returns this year.
For information on filing your taxes, click here.
