Tax Reminder

Here's a friendly reminder, from someone who for no good reason has put off filing her taxes until almost the last day:

• Your income tax return is due to the Department of Revenue on April 15.
  

• What that actually means is, if you're mailing it, the stamp must be postmarked April 15. If it's going to take you until the absolute last possible minute, check with your local Post Office to find out their cut-off time to still get the postmark.
  

• Even if you're e-filing, by this date, some electronic preparers won't guarantee that they'll get your form submitted in time, and they recommend that you file for an extension. I opted not to go through that hassle. I completed the IRS' PDF version of the 1040, printed it out, and I'm putting it in the mail tomorrow morning.

• The IRS' PDF of the 1040-EZ is here. Other forms, organized in an extremely arcane fashion and thus confounding the searching methods of most sane individuals, are available here.

It's that time again...
(Image from 2anyone)

• Besides the oh-so-delightful personality of the IRS, here's another reason to file your taxes on time: you know that random "economic stimulus package," a.k.a. the $300-$600 that the government is giving you for no apparent reason except maybe to stop people's grumbling and get them to buy stuff? If you don't file your taxes on time (and if you earned less than $3,000 in 2007), you won't get that $600.

• Here's more about that Economic Stimulus Package, and a schedule of when the payments will be mailed.

Sources
IRS main page, which includes links to forms and information about filing electronically at no cost to you through one of the IRS-sanctioned providers
Adrian Sanchez, "Taxpayers have extra incentive April 15," April 11, 2008
Indiana Department of Revenue, Student Taxes: Simplified
TurboTax, Important Tax Dates
"April 15 is the last day to file tax returns," Fon du Lac Reporter, April 11, 2008