The taxman cometh — in fact, tomorrow

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 | 10:59 a.m.

With Tax Day just hours away, don't fret if you haven't filed this year's return, officials say, noting that many procrastinators still have plenty of time and a number of options.

Improvements in electronic filing have given professional tax preparers the opportunity to do two or three times more returns than they did five years ago, when electronic filing was in its infancy, giving procrastinators a much better shot at getting help so late in the tax season.

Taxpayers also can file a four-month extension as 8 million Americans -- more than 6 percent of taxpayers -- have done each year for the last three years, said Bill Brunson, spokesman for the Internal Revenue Service.

Local taxpayers also can drop off their returns at the Shark Reef Post Office at Mandalay Bay and get a free pass to the aquarium at that Strip resort. About a thousand Las Vegans took advantage of that after-tax, stress-quelling program last year, Postal Service spokesman Vic Fenimore said.

Also, taxpayers should get plenty of rest, not skip meals and practice stretching and relaxation techniques when filling out their 1040 and other forms, says the National Headache Foundation. That group conducted an Internet survey that found that 59 percent of respondents experienced increased frequency, severity and duration of headaches doing their tax returns.

If all else fails, taxpayers can follow the example of Las Vegan Dorothy Campbell, a bus dispatcher who for the last nine years has done her tax returns -- or sought extensions -- on deadline because she regularly owes Uncle Sam $3,000 to $5,000 each year.

"The IRS can wait for its money," said Campbell, as she waited to obtain forms by standing in a line that snaked out the front door of the IRS headquarters at Oakey and Decatur boulevards late Tuesday afternoon. "No sense in worrying about it and getting a bunch of gray hairs over doing taxes."

Brunson said about 25 percent of Americans file their returns in the last two weeks of tax season. Last year, that accounted for 34.6 million Americans, including 24.8 million who filed during the last week. It was the lowest total since 1999, when 34.1 million Americans filed in the two weeks prior to April 15.

The record for procrastination was set in 2002 when 38.7 million Americans filed during that period, Brunson said, noting that in the eyes of the IRS filing at the last minute "is still filing in a timely manner."

And, he said, if Americans want to wait until the last minute to file, the IRS will help them meet deadline. For example, Brunson said, starting today, the Las Vegas IRS office at 4750 W. Oakey has established a two-day drive-through program.

Brunson said taxpayers can drive up to a designated area to get forms, ask "simple tax questions" and drop off completed tax returns and extensions with or without postage. Brunson said the average wait is expected to be about five minutes. The hours of operation of the drive-through are to 4:30 p.m. today and 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Tax Day.

Brunson said if you haven't done your taxes by now -- and the return appears to be a complicated one -- the best option might be to file an extension, which is Form 4868. It is downloadable from the Internet at IRS.gov, or can be obtained at the IRS office, Brunson said.

Also, there are free tax preparation services, including the Tax-Aid program offered by the American Association of Retired Persons, but Brunson could not say whether they will be able to take on new clients today and tomorrow. Still, for the location of the nearest free service, taxpayers can call the IRS toll-free at (800) 829-1040. Free tax advice also can be obtained by calling that number.

Professional tax preparers, if they are able to take new clients today, also are an option.

Timothy McVey, a veteran tax preparer for the last 20 years, from Long Beach, Calif., said the electronic filing system has revolutionzied the industry in the last decade, making it possible for preparers to extend their workloads.

"I could do about 200 tax returns a year before we had electronic filing, but now I do 700 tax returns a year," McVey said.

Matthew Silvanic, 46, who moved to Las Vegas last year from Denver, said as he stood in the long line at the IRS building Tuesday that electronic filing appeals to him for future filings.

"I'm planning on getting a computer and filing my return that way next year," said Silvanic, noting he has always does his own returns.

McVey said consumers looking for a highly qualified preparer to do their taxes should look for "EA" on their business cards, which means "enrolled agent," because they meet high standards in tax preparation and ethics. He said certified public accountants have similar qualifications.

Liberty Tax Service preparers of Las Vegas, Henderson and Mesquite say a stress-relieving option for people who owe a large tax sum and cannot afford to pay it all at once is to ask the IRS if they can make monthly installment payments.

Liberty officials said that option is available to anyone who is not already on an installment plan by filing Form 9465 with their 1040. The IRS usually approves or denies installment plan requests within 30 days. If approved, a $43 fee will be taken out of the first installment payment, Liberty said.

The U.S. Postal Service also is bracing for a busy Tax Day, but officials hope to persuade taxpayers to take advantage of the Mandalay Bay aquarium promotion to avoid long lines at the James C. Brown Jr. Main Office at 1001 E. Sunset Road, where returns will be postmarked up to midnight Thursday.

"This is our third year doing the Mandalay Bay program and I'd like to see two or three times as many people take advantage of it this year," Fenimore said. "We want to offer people an alternative to keep them out of the lines and make Tax Day fun at the same time."

Fenimore said taxpayers who drop off their returns at the temporary Shark Reef Post Office before 10 p.m., will get a voucher they can use to gain free admission to the aquarium that features exotic aquatic creatures. The vouchers also can be used at a future date, Fenimore said.

But for those who insist on giving themselves that extra measure of aggravation in the waning hours of Tax Day by waiting in long lines in their cars outside the main post office -- that's about 60,000 people each year -- Fenimore said postal and IRS workers will be there.

Metro Police will direct traffic in and out of the facility and IRS employees will be stationed there from 5:30 p.m. to 11 p.m to assist with last-minute tax advice and forms, including extensions, he said.

The IRS said despite a feeling of being rushed as deadline approaches, taxpayers still must be careful and accurately fill out the required tax forms. The agency reminds taxpayers to:

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