by Brenda Schafer MSA, CPA, CFP, EA
The Tax Institute at H&R Block

As April 15 draws nigh, I find myself pondering the idea of moving the tax filing deadline to later in the year (maybe not much later, let’s be reasonable). It’s not a new idea, and I must say it hasn’t been met with much enthusiasm. I’d love to know how you feel about the idea.

Here are some pros and cons to get you started:

Pros

• It would be good to mix it up
• Lots of people get extensions anyway
• People who want to file their returns early to get their refunds will get them faster, because people with balances due will probably wait to file their returns
• Gives people more time to get information documents
• Reduce the number of people needing extensions
• Seasonal tax professionals would be employed longer (mo’ money!)

Cons

• Tax prep firms would have to employ seasonal staff longer (the knife cuts both ways)
• The weather will be too nice, and we’ll all space off filing altogether
• What’s the point? Just file an extension
• The Dems and the Republicans will never agree on the new date, so why bother trying?
• Extending the federal filing date would totally screw up the states
• It would be better to shorten the filing season to March 15. (What a rebel!)

Okay, so there you have it. Should the filing deadline be moved to a later date? And don’t bother suggesting that filing should be optional. It ain’t optional. Even if you are hoping to be appointed to a cabinet position some day. (Ahem)