By Staff
Our View
The Internal Revenue Service announced that the deadline for 2006 tax returns and for paying any taxes due has been moved to April 17 this year.
This date is two days later than April 15, the date taxes are usually due. Filing and payment deadlines that land on Saturdays, Sundays or legal holidays are, by law, pushed to the following business day. In 2007 that date is April 17. April 15 just happens to fall on a Sunday this year and April 16 is Emancipation Day, which is a legal holiday for the District of Columbia. It was brought into effect decades ago that holidays observed in D.C. not only effect that area's tax issues, but the entire nation's.
This change really should not influence the citizens of Atmore tremendously. There is no reason to put off filing tax returns until due date, rushing to get the paperwork in the mail. Residents know the due date and instead of procrastinating, why not go ahead and fill out the returns and get them in to the IRS?
Paying our taxes now is easier than it has ever been before. With technology such as the Internet, filing early should be the only option. Taxpayers could omit the last-minute rush and escape pointless mistakes by filing now, instead of later. Filing electronically is much faster and more convenient. One has the option of choosing direct deposit for any refunds. Also, any taxes due can be paid by direct debit or credit card. So, instead of sitting down and filling out a stack of paperwork, you can sit at your computer and do everything online.
Just because the tax date has been moved does not mean you have two more days to delay filing. Instead of giving yourself a headache on April 16th, trying to fill out the massive amount of paperwork that goes along with filing taxes, why not go ahead and do it?