Why we get two extra days to file tax returns

Since April 15 falls on Sunday and workers in Washington, D.C. get Monday off because of Emancipation Day, Americans get two extra days to file their income tax returns this year.

Tax Day 2012 is April 17, but most experts agree that just gives procrastinators more time to do what they do best: procrastinate.

“I think for the most part more people are coming in a little later than usual this year,” said Jared Simon, a partner at the Arlington Heights-based accounting firm of R.J. Simon LLC. “There's no real reason, just procrastination.”

While Illinois does not recognize Emancipation Day as a holiday, it does follow the Internal Revenue Service's rules regarding filing deadlines not falling on holidays. So, the state's Department of Revenue changed its income tax filing deadline as well.

“We match when the IRS accepts tax returns to make it easier on everyone,” said state revenue department spokeswoman Sue Hofer. “But we are urging those who haven't filed yet not to wait until Monday or Tuesday to do their taxes.”

That's because the vast majority of taxes are now filed online and the last-minute filers are likely to slow the state's computers to a crawl in those final filing hours, Hofer said.

“Our computer system, as with others around the country, is going to be slower,” she said. “It takes longer to process an answer, so your best bet is to set aside some time this week and do it.”

And don't expect to show up at the post office at 11:59 p.m. next Tuesday and get your return mailed on time. The postal service doesn't offer those last-second postmarks anymore.

“It's going to be like any other Tuesday for us,” said Victor Dubina, a spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service's Great Lakes region. “From our perspective, if you get your taxes done and put them in a blue collection box by April 15, you definitely won't be late.”

So far, only 11 percent of the 3.6 million tax returns filed by Illinois residents are the paper forms, Hofer said. The other 89 percent were filed electronically. That's up 5.5 percent from last year during the same time period. And of those filed electronically, 2.2 million were submitted by tax professionals, which is also up 5 percent over last year. Almost two-thirds of the state's returns have already been filed, Hofer said.

Hofer said taxpayers who are entitled to refunds receive their money quicker by filing electronically and requesting direct deposit. Those who want paper checks can wait between nine and 12 weeks for their refunds to be mailed.

For more about filing tax returns, visit tax.illinois.gov and irs.gov.