Why Massachusetts Residents Get an Extra Day to File Federal & State Taxes

April is just about here and with the April showers also comes the IRS deadline for filing your personal income taxes for the previous year. This year the tax deadline is Monday, April 18.  But if you live in Massachusetts, the deadline to file both your federal and state returns is the next day, Tuesday, April 19.

According to the MassGov website, federal income tax returns are due the first business day following Emancipation Day, which is celebrated in Washington D.C. on Friday the 15^th.  So, for most Americans tax returns have to be postmarked or digitally sent by Monday the 18^th.  Because Massachusetts celebrates Patriots' Day on Monday the 18^th, an extra day is granted to Massachusetts residents to file both their federal and state personal income tax returns.

MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS GET  EXTRA DAY TO FILE FEDERAL & STATE TAXES

If you can’t complete your filing by the April 19 deadline you must at least file for an extension by that date. If that is your course of action the extended deadline to file is Monday, Oct. 17.  Click here for Federal Tax Information.  Click here for Massachusetts Tax Information.

If you’ve already completed and filed your return you were probably a bit dismayed when it came to the amount of state income taxes you’re paying. According to Forbes, there are a total of nine states without an income tax in the country: New Hampshire, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.