(WXYZ) — Friday is April 15, normally known as Tax Day, but the deadline to file your income tax returns this year is actually Monday, because IRS offices are closed in observance of Emancipation Day.
If you haven’t filed your taxes yet, you have just a few days left, and we have five reminders from an expert, so you don’t waste your money.
“If you can file everything electronically, it’s the best way to go,” Jeffry McMichael, the senior tax manager at Cohen and Company in Detroit, said.
1. – File online ASAP
“The biggest thing is you want to try to avoid any, you know, technical glitches or any errors,” McMichael said.
Plus, mailing in documents to the IRS is not recommended since it’s still dealing with a significant backlog due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. – Watch out for scams
“What’s the most common tax-related scam out there right now?” I asked.
“We still see a lot of people getting emails or phone calls,” he said.
McMichael added to be wary of unsolicited people emailing you or calling you to do your taxes for you.
Also, don’t provide personal information to anyone you don’t know.
3. – File for an extension, if needed
The extension is just to provide all of the documentation to the IRS or the State of Michigan. It does not give you an extension for paying taxes you might owe.
You still have to pay an estimate of what you owe by Monday. If you can’t afford to, you can always apply for a payment plan.
“You’re still charged interest when you go into a payment…
