In the 2011 tax-filing season, taxpayers have until Monday, Apr. 18, to file their 2010 tax returns and pay any tax due.
Emancipation Day, a holiday observed in the District of Columbia, falls this year on Friday, Apr. 15. By law, District of Columbia holidays impact tax deadlines in the same way that federal holidays do; therefore, all taxpayers will have three extra days to file this year. Taxpayers requesting an extension will have until October 17 to file their 2010 tax returns.
For most taxpayers, the 2011 tax-filing season starts on schedule. However, tax law changes enacted by Congress and signed by President Obama in December mean some people need to wait until mid to late February to file their tax returns in order to give the IRS time to reprogram its processing systems. The IRS recently announced Feb. 14, as the start date for processing these delayed tax returns.
Some taxpayers, including those who itemize deductions on Form 1040 Schedule A, needed to wait until Feb. 14, to file. This includes taxpayers impacted by any of three tax provisions that expired at the end of 2009 and were renewed by the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 enacted Dec. 17, 2010. Those who need to wait to file include:
• Taxpayers Claiming Itemized Deductions on Schedule A. Itemized deductions include mortgage interest, charitable deductions, and medical and dental expenses as well as state and local taxes. In addition, itemized deductions include the state and local general sales tax deduction that was also extended and that primarily benefits people living in areas without state and local income taxes.
• Taxpayers Claiming the Higher Education Tuition and Fees Deduction. This deduction for parents and students, covering up to $4,000 of tuition and fees paid to a post-secondary institution, is claimed on Form 8917. However, the IRS emphasized that there will be no delays for millions of parents and students who claim other education credits, including the American Opportunity Tax Credit extended last month and the Lifetime Learning Credit.
• Taxpayers Claiming the Educator Expense Deduction. This deduction is for kindergarten through grade 12 educators with out-of-pocket classroom expenses of up to $250. The educator expense deduction is claimed on Form 1040, Line 23 and Form 1040A, Line 16.
In addition to extending those tax deductions for 2010, the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act also extended those deductions for 2011 and a number of other tax deductions and credits for 2011 and 2012, such as the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the modified Child Tax Credit. The Act also provides various job creation and investment incentives, including 100% expensing and a 2% payroll tax reduction for 2011. Those changes have no effect on the 2011 filing season.
