Tax Filing Deadline Date Extended for Americans plus IRS offers Tax Filing Tips Video to provide Tax Help

For those who still have not filed their 2011 income taxes with the IRS, the 30 day countdown has officially begun. Tax payers will get a couple of extra days to file taxes and pay taxes this year as the IRS announced the new tax filing deadline as Tuesday April 17, 2012.

The tax filing extension this year is because April the 15th falls on a Sunday and Monday the 16th is Emancipation Day, a holiday observed in the District of Columbia. By federal law, holidays in Washington D.C. alter tax filing and payment deadlines in the same way that federal holidays do.

For individuals who still need additional time to prepare and file their income taxes still have the option of filing for a tax filing extension. The extension is a simple process done with a single form, which must be mailed by the April 17th tax deadline. However, this extension will give the tax payer until Oct. 15 of 2012 to file their 2011 income taxes.

The form for getting an extension on filing taxes is IRS Form 4868 “Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return” and can be downloaded from the IRS.gov web site. It is a very short form asking only your basic contact information and what you estimate to be any taxes you need to pay. Remember that the IRS tax extension gives you more time to file your income taxes, but you do still need to submit payment of your estimated taxes owed to the IRS by the April 17th deadline.

Watch IRS Tax Tips and Filing for Tax Refund Video Here:

At the IRS this year a number of improvements have been announced as the Agency continues its efforts to make it easier and less time consuming for Americans to file taxes, pay taxes and receive tax refunds fast.

“At the IRS, we’re working hard to make the process of filing your taxes as quick and easy as possible,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “Providing quality service is one of our top priorities. It not only reduces the burden on taxpayers, but also helps in filing an accurate return right from the start.”

Among the IRS tax filing improvements are some ways to file taxes for free using the IRS.gov web site and IRS Free File software and tax forms. E-filing your taxes with the IRS remains the fastest way to get a speedy refund which can be paid to your through a direct deposit to your bank account.

“Once taxpayers file their federal return, they can track the status of their refunds by using the “Where’s My Refund?” tool, which taxpayers can get to using the IRS2Go phone app or from the front page of www.IRS.gov. By providing their Taxpayer Identification Numbers, filing status, and the exact whole dollar amount of their anticipated refund taxpayers can generally get information about their refund 72 hours after the IRS acknowledges receipt of their e-filed returns, or three to four weeks after mailing a paper return.”