IRS Filing Deadline Extended this Year

Taxpayers have two extra days -- until April 17 -- to file their income tax returns with the IRS this year.

The extended deadline is due to the fact that April 15 falls on a Sunday and April 16 is Emancipation Day, a holiday celebrated in Washington D.C.

Federal law says District of Columbia holidays affect IRS deadlines the same way federal holidays do.

The IRS is urging taxpayers to e-file their returns for better accuracy and faster refunds. 

The agency said it has introduced improvements to the e-file system, inlcuding new navigation features and interactive video for help with tax issues.

The IRS will begin accepting e-file and Free File returns Jan. 17.

IRS Free File provides options for free brand-name tax software or online fillable forms plus free electronic filing.

Everyone can use Free File to prepare a federal tax return; taxpayers who make $57,000 or less can choose from about 20 commercial software providers. There’s no income limit for Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic version of IRS paper forms, which also includes free e-filing.