It’s not even the end of January and my schedule is jam packed. As a tax preparer I frequently find myself wishing for “one more day” this time of the year. One more day to complete the big project, one more day to relax and rejuvenate, one more datimeflies2.jpgy to…..oh the list goes on.

I received a 2007 calendar as a holiday gift. First I looked to see which day my birthday is on. Guess what came second. Yep, I checked to see which day April 15th lands on. To my surprise, and for the second year in a row, the 15th falls on a weekend! I get one more weekend to complete the masses of returns that will change the landscape of my office. From smooth flat desk surfaces to mounds, stacks, even piles of documents, the seasons in my office are much more dramatic than the four seasons in Northern California.

Today, feeling a bit overwhelmed with current work and “to do” lists, I got an extra day. In fact many of us did.

The IRS announced that they are extending the tax filing deadline until April 17th! It turns out the 16th is a holiday… Patriots’ Day.

Patriot’s Day is a tribute to the American Revolution. Most of us are probably familiar with the Boston Marathon, an annual event which happens to mark the holiday. Patriots’ Day is observed annually on the third Monday in April. Last years tax deadline fell on a Sunday so the IRS extended the filing deadline to the Monday. However Patriots’ Day closed one of the main IRS processing centers in Andover, Massachusetts. So last year, people filing to that center were allowed an extra day.

This year, we have the same situation. April 15th is a Sunday and Monday 16th is Patriots’ Day. So the IRS granted us all an extra day–regardless of if we live in a state that observes the holiday.

If any of the following apply to you, count your lucky stars and enjoy your extra day! Postmark your return by midnight on April 17th!

  • Filing 2006 Federal income tax returns (whether filing electronically or on paper)
  • Requesting an automatic 6 month extension to file (whether submitted electronically or on Form 4868)
  • Making a 2006 tax-year balance due payment (whether made electronically via direct debit or credit card or by check)
  • Making a 2006 tax-year contribution to a Roth or Traditional IRA
  • Paying individual estimated tax payments for the first quarter of 2007 (whether electronically or by check)
  • Filing individual refund claims where for the 2003 tax year, where the regular three-year statute of limitations is expiring.