No Last Minute Tax Rush
Updated: April 19, 2011
CHAMPAIGN - Monday afternoon the lines at the Post Office on 2001 North Mattis Avenue were not as long as they usually are on Tax Day.
"I just prefer to do it at the very last minute," explained Chalaine Davis who sent in her taxes through the mail. "Because I figure if they're going to get my money they're going to wait till the last minute."
While it seems like mailing income taxes is the standard practice, this year Davis was in the minority.
The Illinois Department of Revenue said it expects 4.2 million people to have filed online through E-File. That means about 70 percent of the taxes were filed online in Illinois.
Last year, 62 percent of taxpayers filled out their returns electronically according to the IDR.
Another reason lines were not as long this year was because of the three day grace period. The normal Tax Day, April 15, fell on a government holiday. That meant people had three extra days to get it in.
Many post offices are not staying open late either. The post offices in Champaign and Urbana closed at their normal times, 6:30. For a list of post offices that are open till midnight click here.
"I just prefer to do it at the very last minute," explained Chalaine Davis who sent in her taxes through the mail. "Because I figure if they're going to get my money they're going to wait till the last minute."
While it seems like mailing income taxes is the standard practice, this year Davis was in the minority.
The Illinois Department of Revenue said it expects 4.2 million people to have filed online through E-File. That means about 70 percent of the taxes were filed online in Illinois.
Last year, 62 percent of taxpayers filled out their returns electronically according to the IDR.
Another reason lines were not as long this year was because of the three day grace period. The normal Tax Day, April 15, fell on a government holiday. That meant people had three extra days to get it in.
Many post offices are not staying open late either. The post offices in Champaign and Urbana closed at their normal times, 6:30. For a list of post offices that are open till midnight click here.
