By Evan Vitale
By the time you read this, we’ll be just a few weeks away from “tax day” in which we must file our annual tax returns.
However, the Internal Revenue Service is giving us a few extra days this year (2016) in order to get our returns completed and in the mail.
You see, normally, the much-anticipated date (or dreaded date, if you prefer) is always April 15, unless it falls on a weekend day. This year however, April 15 is on a Friday, but the due date is actually April 18, 2016.
Why?
Well, “Emancipation Day” is April 15, 2016 in the District of Columbia. It usually falls on April 16, but when April 16 is a Saturday – which it is this year – then Emancipation Day moves to the previous day (Friday, April 15).
The IRS states “The term ‘legal holiday’ includes a holiday observed in the District of Columbia – Emancipation Day, April 16, is a legal holiday in the District of Columbia. When April 16 is a Saturday, the preceding day is the observed holiday.
Now, if you live in Maine or Massachusetts, then you have until Tuesday, April 19, 2016 to file your individual income tax returns. That’s because Monday, April 18, 2016 is “Patriots Day” which is observed as a statewide legal holiday every third Monday of April. IRS offices are closed in those states on Monday, April 18 and, since taxpayers are allowed to file their returns by hand-delivering their forms to a local IRS office, the due date is extended to the next day (April 19).
And, just as a friendly reminder, the first installment payment for 2016 estimated tax is also due by April 18 – the same deadline for your 2015 Federal tax returns. Double bonus! This deadline applies to all residents (even those in Maine or Massachusetts).
Whew! Got it?
