Procrastinators' Reprieve Is Over: Tax Day Is Here

Although Uncle Sam gave procrastinators a reprieve this year by extending the due date for taxes, Tax Day has finally arrived.  We have Abraham Lincoln to thank for those three extra days to wrangle with W2s.

Although taxes are normally due on the 15th (last Friday), that doesn't hold true if it falls on the weekend or a federal holiday. Washington D.C. celebrated Emancipation Day a day early on Friday because the traditional April 16 holiday landed on a Saturday. Holidays in D.C. count the same as national holidays.

Emancipation Day is the anniversary of the signing of the Compensation Emancipation Act by President Lincoln which freed the slaves in the District of Columbia in 1862. It was made an official public holiday in Washington D.C. in 2005.

With just hours left to file 2010 tax return, the IRS is offering some filing tips and YouTube videos to help get you through the process.

Not everyone has waited until the last minute, though. And the IRS reports that through last Friday, April 8, 85 percent of all returns processed have been e-filed, and more than four out of five are resulting in  refunds. The average refund? $2,895. 

Also, as of early April, almost 9 million tax returns from California taxpayers (8.84 million) had been e-filed.

YouTube to the Rescue

Taxpayers can find a wealth of tax-related information on the IRS YouTube channel. The channel, which debuted in August 2009, features numerous IRS experts answering common and not-so-common tax questions.

The IRS YouTube channel is home to hundreds of videos on subjects ranging from how to choose a tax preparer to filing your taxes for free to checking on your refund.

Videos are posted in English, Spanish and American Sign Language.

To date, there have been more than 1.7 million views. The IRS YouTube video channel is the fifth most viewed out of more than 125 U.S. government YouTube channels.

Taxpayers can even subscribe to the channel to receive notice of new video offerings. In fact, the IRS will soon be featuring summertime video tax tips. Topics include the tax implications of summer day camps and summer jobs.

The following videos include information last-minute filers will find useful:

• "Last-Minute Tax Tips"  English
• "File Your Taxes for Free"  English | Spanish | ASL
• "Owe Taxes but Can't Pay?" English | Spanish | ASL
• "Where's My Refund?" English | Spanish | ASL
• "How to Check Your Refund on IRS2Go Phone App"  English | ASL