Tax-Filing Deadline is Tuesday

Once again this year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is giving taxpayers extra time to file their tax returns, thanks to Emancipation Day.

Last year, it was an extra weekend. This year, the IRS is extending the filing deadline to Tuesday, April 17.

The IRS made the announcement in early January on its website. The deadline to file 2011 tax returns and pay any tax due is extended from April 15 to April 17, a news release states. That's because April 15 falls on a Sunday, and Emancipation Day, a holiday observed in the District of Columbia, falls on Monday, April 16.

Federal law requires District of Columbia holidays to affect tax deadlines in the same way that federal holidays do, the IRS stated.

"It's odd that they've done this two years in a row," said John Kasperek, owner of in Manchester. "I wouldn't depend upon that extended two days for filing your tax return. There is always the possibility that there could be some processing errors at the IRS, or with the state of Missouri, that if you don't file by the fifteenth, you could have to deal with some notices, etc."

More than 144 million individual tax returns are expected this year, with most of those being filed by April 17, the IRS website stated.

The IRS began accepting e-file and Free File returns Jan. 17. Taxpayers have new tools this year to help with filing, including navigation features and an interactive video to help with tax issues.

The IRS also reminds taxpayers requesting an extension that they have until Oct. 15 to file their tax returns.