April 17th Tax Deadline Approaches for 2011 Income Tax Filing

Deadline Reminder to Taxpayers: You have just a few more days to file your income tax return.

The official deadline for filing your 2011 Individual Income Tax Return is April 17th. That includes Forms 1040, 1040a or 1040EZ. This is also the deadline date for taxpayers who owe quarterly estimated income tax payments for their 2012 income taxes.

The filing deadline has been delayed from the standard April 15th date, because when the 15th falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the due date is automatically delayed until the next business day. This tax season, the 15th falls on a Sunday and the 16th is a state holiday in the District of Columbia. So, the final date to file federal individual income tax returns is April 17, 2012.

If the extra days still do not allow your tax return to be completed and filed on time, then you may consider filing an extension. Requesting an extension through Form 4868 provides you an extra six months to file your completed return. This year, an extension delays the need to file a completed return until October 15th. You may also have more time to file if you are currently living out of the country or are on active military duty outside of the United States.

Yet, don’t forget that even if you are filing an extension, you must still pay the taxes you owe by the April 17th deadline or you risk paying more due to penalties and interest. This is true even if you don’t yet know the exact amount you owe. In that case, you must still submit a payment voucher and make a payment no later than the 17th to avoid penalties.