Marion, Ill (WSIL) 鈥� The tax deadline is here, but if you鈥檙e still scrambling to get your paperwork in order, don鈥檛 panic. Experts say there鈥檚 still time to avoid penalties and take control of your tax filing.
鈥淛ust file an extension,鈥� says Dan Burrus, Regional Manager at Atlas CPAs & Advisors in Marion. Burrus says extensions are easier than you think.
Many people assume filing late means getting flagged or even audited. But Burrus says that鈥檚 one of the biggest tax myths.
"That's a common thing" he says,聽 they think "I'm gonna get audited if I fill out an extension" that鈥檚 not true, Burrus told News 3.
Requesting an extension is free and gives you until October 15 to file your full return.
There鈥檚 no penalty for requesting an extension, he adds, but there is a penalty for not filing on time.
If you think you owe money and don鈥檛 have the full amount right now, Burrus recommends sending something rather than nothing.
鈥淎n extension to file is not an extension to pay, so even if you have a larger balance due and you can't pay it all on April 15th, it's better to pay some than none".
Whether you choose to e-file, drop it off with a local tax preparer, or mail it in the old-fashioned way鈥攖here are still plenty of ways to file, even at the last minute. Just make sure if you're using snail mail, your return is postmarked by 11:59 PM on April 15.
