Sonoma County taxpayers scramble to meet deadline tonight

<p>A steady stream of taxpayers filed into the IRS office in downtown Santa Rosa today as the hours ticked down to this year’s tax deadline. </p><p>Jose Moreno of Rohnert Park wanted to meet with a tax advisor to arrange payment in monthly installments. </p><p>“I owe taxes but I don’t have the money,” he said. </p><p>Others were picking up tax forms, applying for extensions or seeking advice from IRS representatives.</p><p>Paper tax returns must be postmarked April 15 to avoid penalties. This year, about 64 million of 140 million taxpayers will file online, a 24 percent increase over 2008. </p><p>Taxpayers who file electronically make fewer errors and get refunds faster, according to the IRS. About 70 percent of taxpayers are eligible for the IRS’ free online filing program. </p><p>As a result of the online shift, fewer post offices are staying open late tonight to serve last-minute tax filers. In Sonoma County, only the Petaluma post office on McDowell Boulevard will offer the service. </p><p>Taxpayers can drop off their paper returns in Petaluma until midnight tonight. </p><p>As Santa Rosa’s downtown library, James Staples of Santa Rosa was searching for Form 972 for child care credits. He was finishing his paper tax returns and needed the elusive form. </p><p>“I’m doing them the old-fashioned way,” he said. </p><p>Was Staples expecting a refund from Uncle Sam? </p><p>“Those days are gone,” he said. </p><p>Julie Schaeffer of Santa Rosa also was gathering paper forms.</p><p>“We started doing our taxes this morning and the computer crashed,” she said. </p><p>Taxpayers who can’t meet tonight’s deadline can request an extension. But they must pay any taxes owed to avoid interest and penalties. </p><p>The extension gives taxpayers until Oct. 15 to file. They can apply online or by mail, but they must submit the request by midnight tonight. </p><p>Requests for installment payments also can be made online. </p><p>Taxes may be paid electronically with credit cards, debit cards or through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System. </p><p>More information is available at the IRS Web site, www.irs.gov.</p>