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Tax Season Starts...For Some

January 5, 2011
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By Matt McCleskey

The Internal Revenue Service opened the 2011 tax season Wednesday. The IRS says most taxpayers can go ahead if they want to get an early jump on their taxes. But some will need to wait until mid-February so the IRS can reprogram its systems to accomodate changes in tax law enacted by Congress and signed by President Obama in December.

Taxpayers affected include those who itemize deductions on Schedule A and any who claim deductions for educator expense or higher education and fees.

Of course, many taxpayers put off doing their taxes until much nearer the deadline anyway. This year, those late filers will have three extra days due to the D.C. Emancipation Day holiday, which falls on Friday, April 15 this year.

D.C. holidays affect tax deadlines as if they were federal holidays, so federal tax returns this year need to be postmarked by Monday, April 18.

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