Photo by Leeloo The First
Today is a federal holiday. If you have the day off and have yet to file your extended tax return, use the free time to finish your 1040 that’s due by Oct. 15. And if you don’t have the day off, make the time to complete this tax task in the next three days!
Today is an official federal holiday. Uncle Sam, under the current administration, is referring to it only as its original Columbus Day designation. Other governments, however, have either rechristened it Indigenous Peoples’ Day or use both names.
Some places do have parades or other events today celebrating the 15th century Italian explorer. But for most of us, the second Monday of October is just another day, aside from no U.S. Postal Service delivery.
In fact, the main reason we notice it is because it has been co-opted by the private sector. We’re aware of Columbus Day primarily because of the television ads (which seem to be fewer this year, at least on local Austin, Texas, stations) for retailers who use it as a peg for sales. (Need a new mattress?)
But Columbus and/or Indigenous Peoples’ Day also is a good federal tax deadline reminder.
Although this holiday doesn’t typically affect Internal Revenue Service obligations, it arrives just before the Oct. 15 deadline for individual income tax returns on extension.
File your extended 2025 tax return: So, if you do happen to have today off and you’ve yet to get your Form 1040 to the IRS, you can use at least some of today to finish up that job.
Even if you did have to fight through the Sunday Scaries and schlep to your office today, be sure to make some time when you get home to complete your filing.
You can read more about meeting the extended filing deadline in my October tax moves post. It’s the first one to take care of this month.
That item also points out that if you didn’t pay tax you owe when you got the extension, or discover upon finally completing your return you do owe tax, you’ll also face added late-payment penalty and interest charges.
More time for disaster-area filers: Some taxpayers, however, don’t have to get their IRS-OKed late returns in by this Thursday, Oct. 15.
The IRS has extended their extensions because of the severe damage from major storms and other disasters that struck where they live or have businesses.
My post on this extra filing time has more, including links to the official IRS announcements of disaster tax relief in these locales.
And if you’re like me, with your tax filing done, no need to shop for anything on sale, but some free time, just enjoy the day.
