United Way Monterey County helps tax procrastinators file before deadline

We may all be getting an extra day to file our taxes, but time is still running out.

Tuesday the IRS pushed back the deadline to tomorrow because of a problem with its website.

But before many on the Central Coast found out they were rushing to get their returns in and learning the consequence of waiting.

United Way Monterey County has had free tax prep sites open for weeks dozens just came out here.

Some considering themselves lucky that they now have an unexpected extra day.

Experts with the program say waiting until the last day won’t get you in trouble with the IRS but there’s really no reason to wait, even if know you’re going to owe.

“You can come in and file your return and then get a voucher and mail your payment in April,” said Loyanne Linn with United Way.

Still, they say there are plenty of reasons not to wait.

“Last minute tax payers tend to be a little bit disorganized so sometimes they’re missing their W-2’s or their Social Security benefit statement or they’re missing tuition statements if they’re taking higher education courses,” said tax preparer Justin Baker.

For those who’ve already filed, tax preparers say you can already start setting yourself up for next year.

“Making sure your employer is withholding the right amount can help them in the future as well as just having overall preparation for the whole process that we have to take the taxpayer through,” Baker said.

Despite the one day extension from the IRS, the VITA program says they had no plans to offer services on Wednesday.