It's tax day - the deadline to file your federal and state income tax - taxes, or an extension, must be filed by midnight Tuesday.
Christopher Miller is the IRS spokesman for Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin and has this suggestion.
"If you still haven't filed your taxes on the last day there is still time but E-filing is the way to go simply because electronic filing is so fast and easy.
Miller says if you absolutely run out of time to get your taxes ready by the deadline you can save yourself a lot of headaches and file an extension.
"It is a simple form, a 4868 that can be done on-line through our free-file site on our website or you can print it off from our website, fill it out and send it in. That gives you an automatic six month extension to file your taxes until October 15th."
Miller says if you owe money to the IRS, an extension does not give you more time to pay.
"An extension of time to file your tax return is not an extension of time to pay so if you owe and you are able to get that money to the IRS you need to do that by the tax deadline otherwise you will be facing potential penalties and interest."
Your taxes are done and the result shows you owe the IRS money but your bank account disagrees. Miller says if that is the case you can contact the IRS as they do offer options to pay.
"To set up an extended time to pay or perhaps you will fall under a situation where you can set up an installment agreement where you can pay over time."
Miller says for those who lost a job and owe the IRS money, they also have a program in place that can help.
"For taxpayers that are facing tough times because of the economy and owe money to the IRS, we are under a Fresh Start Initiative where we're trying to go the extra mile to work with taxpayers to help abate penalties and interest and give them more time to get their money to the IRS. If you fall under that category you should give the IRS a call so we discuss the options."
Miller says out of the more than 860,000 tax returns expected from Nebraska, 70-percent had been filed by April 6th. He says eight out of 10 Nebraskans E-File their tax returns.
(Courtesy of The Nebraska Radio Network. All Rights Reserved.)
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - The Nebraska Department of Revenue is reminding residents that state taxes, like federal taxes, are nearly due.
Taxpayers have until Tuesday to file their state income taxes. Nebraska is accepting returns through the revenue department's NebFile program. The department's website offers free e-file and e-pay options, as well as detailed information about state taxes.
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service has said taxpayers have until Tuesday to file the federal taxes, because Monday is a legal holiday in Washington, D.C.
Nebraska will also accept income returns and payments e-filed or postmarked on or before Tuesday as being on time.
Online: www.revenue.ne.gov/
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
