April 15

April 15 is the date on which Federal income tax returns are due reporting income for the preceding calendar year.

Expanded Definition

Tax returns postmarked by midnight April 15 are considered filed on time, thus avoiding a penalty for filing late. The deadline can be extended if April 15 falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday. For instance, in 2007, April 15 was a Sunday and April 16 is Emancipation Day in D.C., so taxpayers across the country had until April 17 to file. Federal law makes it so that holidays celebrated in D.C. have a nationwide impact on tax issues, according to the IRS.

In some years, April 15 falls on Patriots Day in Massachusetts, and taxpayers in the six eastern states served by an IRS processing facility in Massachusetts get an extra day to file.

Related Fool Articles

• The Fool's "Death and Taxes" Center -- lots of good information
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• Shift Income for Tax Savings

Related Terms

• Income tax
• IRS
• Form 1040
• Form 1040A
• Schedule D

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[[Category:Taxes]