Returns due by midnight, post office won't run late

Today is Wednesday, April 15 - the midway point of the week and the month, but the end of tax season. That means no more putting it off: Whether by long form, short form or online, federal and state income tax returns must be filed before midnight to avoid a penalty.

At the Corvallis-Benton Public Library, librarians were busy Tuesday answering phones and directing patrons to tax forms, copy machines and computers.

"We're getting to the time where they want the extension form," said reference librarian Amy Spies.

Not far from the reference desk, volunteers with AARP's Tax-Aide program had a full slate of appointments for their last day.

Volunteer Murray Laver said they were checking to make sure people noted the federal stimulus checks they received in 2008.

"They don't remember getting it," Laver said. "They certainly don't remember spending it."

Tax-Aide, which is partly funded by the IRS, helps prevent such oversights.

"The tax situation's really overwhelming," Laver said.

Susan Ford, another Tax-Aide volunteer, agreed. "Even relatively simple returns would be hard to do."

Erin Schroll waited in a library chair for her taxes to be prepared. It was the third year she'd had her taxes prepared by AARP Tax-Aide.

"It's convenient and it's free," she said of why she kept returning. Plus, the volunteers seemed well-versed in taxes for college students such as Schroll, a graduate assistant.

Nearby, Leah DeMers of Corvallis was picking up some tax forms.

"It snuck up on me," said DeMers, who is self-employed.

Even with the looming deadline, DeMers planned to mail her taxes in.

"As long as it's postmarked by midnight, it's good," DeMers said.

The Corvallis Post Office, which in years past stayed open until midnight on April 15, will close at its regular time of 5:30 p.m. Postmaster John Herrington said the tax-filing traffic didn't warrant later hours these days.

"As people do e-filing, it just has decreased to the point that it's just a normal day," he said.

It wasn't a normal day at Rite Aid, where Tax-Aide had a drop-in center. As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, volunteers there had prepared 40 returns - about twice as many as average - with two hours left to go.

Tuesday also was the last day for getting the free help with the returns due today.

Those taxpayers looking to get a jump on filing next year, take note: The 2010 AARP Tax-Aide program begins Feb. 1. Appointments will be accepted starting the last week of January.

Why today?

Tax filing day in the United States wasn't always April 15.

Congress originally set March 1 as the deadline for filing tax returns. The date was changed to March 15 following the Revenue Act of 1918. In 1955, April 15 became tax day after revisions to the tax code.

Why the later date? According to Fortune magazine, as more members of the middle class paid income tax, the government had to issue more refunds.

Also, the government had more time to hold on to the money.

Those who are due refunds take note: The IRS has a deadline of its own to meet every year. The agency must mail refunds within 45 days or pay interest.