Tax Deadline Is Here

The annual tax deadline has officially arrived, and with it comes a wave of last-minute filers looking to get their paperwork in — or at the very least, secure an extension. Inside the busy offices of Barton CPA, an accounting and advisory firm in Palm Springs, it was a busy day as people were trying to rush to get there taxes in on deadline. Tax preparer Aaron Ortega describes the environment as “an influx of calls, emails, and follow-ups,” as his team works diligently to both complete returns and address client concerns.

For those not quite ready to file, Ortega reminds filers that requesting an extension only gives more time to submit the paperwork — not more time to pay any taxes owed. “We also want to make sure some people know that it's an extension of time to file, but not an extension of time to pay,” he emphasizes.

Some taxpayers are taking no chances. Aaron Dandurg, a cautious filer, made sure to snap a photo of his paperwork before submitting it at the post office.

“If there's any question later about when I brought it to the post office, when it was delivered, I can refer back to the picture that I took,” he said. “To me, it’s just playing it safe.”

Tax experts also advise those who are self-employed — such as Uber drivers and sole proprietors — to plan ahead. These individuals are not taxed through regular payroll and should be setting aside roughly 12–15% of their income throughout the year to cover tax liabilities. Despite national concerns over federal budget cuts, tax professionals say that refund processing times should remain normal this year, bringing some relief to anxious filers. For more information tune into NBC Palm Springs