Last-minute tax tips

If you roll into your office around lunchtime or show up late for your parents’ 50th anniversary dinner, you’ll probably need to provide a good excuse for your tardiness. In the latter case, you may also need a note from the emergency room doctor, or a photo of your car engulfed in flames.

But if you can’t file your federal tax return by April 18, this year’s deadline, you can get a reprieve until Oct. 17, no questions asked. With the deadline less than a week away, filing for an extension may provide a way to avoid last-minute mistakes that could cost you money.

Read more at:http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/columnist/block/2011-04-11-your-money-tax-tips.htm