IRS extends tax-filing deadline to April 18

The Internal Revenue Service announced today that taxpayers will have three extra days to file their returns because of theEmancipation Day holiday celebrated in the District of Columbia.

The holiday, marking the freeing of D.C. slaves by President Abraham Lincoln, falls on April 16, a Saturday, so that means the district takes the day off on Friday, the 15th. Because tax deadlines cannot fall on a weekend or holiday, filers will have until midnight April 18 to post or electronically send their returns.

The IRS had already announced that because of congressional tax changes, itemizers won't be able to file before mid- to late February.