With the tax filing (and paying) deadline just hours away, the IRS seems to be channeling, at least via its announcements, the annual Jerry Lewis fundraising telethon.
Case in point, word from the Washington tax headquarters that taxpayers set a record this weekend for e-filed tax returns, topping 100 million for the first time.
The record electronic filing was helped by a surge of e-filings over the weekend. By early this April 18 filing deadline morning, the IRS said it had received nearly 101 million electronically submitted returns this filing season. That's an 8.8 percent increase from last year.
Even better for e-filing advocates at the IRS, this weekend's e-filings pushed that category past the calendar year 2010 total of 98.7 million tax e-filed returns.
By the time more tax procrastinators file today, not to mention those who'll get extensions and then file nearer the Oct. 17 extension deadline thanks to Form 4868 filings, the e-filing record probably will be smashed.
But the filing stat fun doesn't stop with just 2011 numbers.
Overall, the IRS is nearing another electronic milestone. It soon will hit 1 billion tax returns filed electronically since the e-file program went national in 1990.
If you're still working on your 2010 taxes, and you do have about eight hours to finish up, chances are you'll add to the e-file numbers.
To help you be a part of the IRS record-setting season, you can find some final filing reminders in:
- Tax tips for January, February, March and April
- Common tax-filing errors to avoid
- Deductions without itemizing, aka above-the-line deductions
- Free filing of federal and state tax returns
- Free tax help
Finally, don't wait too long.
Although you have until midnight to hit "enter" and be done with your taxes for the year, don't take that chance. A couple of years ago there were problems with very last-minute e-filed returns getting through.
So give yourself, and your computer, a little breathing room.
Related posts:
- Figuring your estimated tax payment amount
- IRA time!
- Save on taxes with a self-employed retirement account
- Don't forget your state taxes
- State Tax Departments
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