Tax Deadline Nears -- Extensions,
Installment Plans Available

WASHINGTON - With the tax filing deadline less than two weeks away, the Internal Revenue Service today reminded taxpayers that it has help for those who can't complete their forms on time or can't pay what they owe.

You can get an extra four months -- until Aug. 15 -- to file by sending Form 4868 to the IRS by Apr. 15. This filing extension does not give you more time to pay any taxes owed. You must estimate your total tax liability when requesting the extension. You may pay any projected balance due with the Form 4868, but if you can't pay the full amount, you can still get the extension.

Interest charges apply to any tax not paid by Apr. 15. You may also be liable for a late payment penalty if the total you have paid by Apr. 15 is less than 90 percent of your actual 1996 tax.

You may download Form 4868 to your computer through the IRS Website -- http://www.irs.gov -- or directly via modem from the IRIS at FedWorld bulletin board at 703-321-8020. Those with a fax machine may use the IRS TaxFax by calling 703-487-4160 and request Item #13141 by return fax. Form 4868 is also available at local IRS offices and many public libraries.

If you've completed your tax forms, but you can't pay the full amount owed, you should still file your return on time, to avoid the late filing penalty. Send as large a payment as possible with your return, to lessen any interest and penalty charges.

You may ask the IRS for an installment payment plan when you file. Attach Form 9465 to the front of your tax return, listing the amount you propose to pay each month and on which day. You may download Form 9465 via computer from the sites listed above or receive it from TaxFax -- item #14842. The IRS will let you know within 30 days if your proposal is accepted. There is a $43 fee for setting up the installment payment plan, which will be added to your first payment.

When sending a payment, make the check out to "Internal Revenue Service" -- not "IRS." Be sure the check includes your name, address, Social Security number, a daytime phone number, the tax year and the form you filed. Do not attach your check to your tax form, and do not include any 1997 estimated tax payment.

As of March 28, the IRS had received more than 61 million returns, over half the total expected this year. Electronic options continue to grow in popularity with taxpayers, with standard electronic filing showing an 18 percent increase and TeleFile surging by 56 percent over last year. The IRS has processed nearly 41 million refunds, totaling over $55 billion. The average refund -- $1346 -- is up 7.5 percent from this time last year.

1997 FILING SEASON STATISTICS

Cumulative through the week ending 3/29/96 and 3/28/97

                       1996                1997        % Change

Individual Income Tax Returns

Total Receipts       61,065,000         61,042,000       - 0.0
Total Processed      52,024,000         50,891,000       - 2.2 

Filing Alternatives -- Total Receipts:

Standard Electronic  10,650,000         12,583,000        18.2
TeleFile              2,524,000          3,933,000        55.8
1040PC Format         3,448,000          4,005,000        16.2

Refunds Certified by the Martinsburg Computing Center:

Number               41,578,000         40,948,000       - 1.5
Amount of principal $52.073 billion   $55.106 billion      5.8
Average refund          $1252              $1346           7.5

  (NOTE:  refund data should NOT be compared to the "processed"
          numbers above, since those figures reflect Service
          Center processing, which is completed at least a week
          before refunds are certified at the Computing Center)

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