IRS Extends the 2011 Tax Return Filing Deadline to April 17, 2012

On January 4, 2012, the Internal Revenue Service announced that the taxpayers will have until  April 17, 2012 (Tuesday) to file their 2011 tax returns and pay any tax due.  This is because April 15, 2012, falls on a Sunday, and Emancipation Day, a holiday observed in the District of Columbia, falls this year on Monday, April 16, 2012.  Since, according to federal law, District of Columbia holidays impact tax deadlines in the same way that federal holidays do, all taxpayers will have two extra days this year to file their 2011 tax returns.  Note, however, that taxpayers requesting an extension will have until October 15, 2012, to file their 2011 tax returns; there is no change in the filing date here.

The IRS will begin accepting e-file and Free File returns on January 17, 2012. Additional details about e-file and Free File will be announced later this month.