Apr. 11—The deadline for tax season is Monday, April 15 — and some area residents may have realized they are almost late to the game.
Jennifer Schnitzer, a registered tax preparer at Williams & Williams CPAs, said those who have not filed their taxes at this point they have a couple of options: online formats or local accountants.
"If they can find someone to file them for them — because most places are trying to get what they have in their offices out — they just have to have their tax documents," Schnitzer said.
Online formats, like TurboTax, can be easy for those with simple taxes, like a single person with a W-2. Schnitzer said the more complicated a person's tax return, the more important it is for the person to seek an accountant's help.
Schnitzer said she often recommends people work with accountants, who can answer questions clients may have. A new client must bring a Social Security card, tax documents, and driver's license.
On April 16, for those who have not filed taxes, Schnitzer said they should see if they are in refund status.
"If you're in refund status, you're OK. If you're not in refund status, then you really needed to make sure you had an extension filed the day before on Monday," Schnitzer said. "By Monday at midnight, you need to have an extension filed, whether you do it electronically or you mail it in and have it postmarked."
An extension is done by submitting Form 4868, which will give the person six months to file taxes. Personal returns and corporations are extended to Oct. 15, but partnerships and "S corporations" will have a Sept. 15 deadline. The latter had an extension deadline for March 15.
If taxes are filed early, Schnitzer said, it allows the individual to find out how they can adjust their tax burden for the next year and not pay off what is owed all at once. Schnitzer said some recommend people to have their taxes looked at in July to give them six months to make adjustments.
"The outcome is going to stay the same, whether we do it in April or whether we do it in October," Schnitzer said. "Even if you're going to owe, you're better off finding out early."