Tax day brings out the procrastinator in many

Chris Dwyer walked to the counter at the Washington Street Post Office on Monday and paid $2.39 to mail his taxes to Ogden, Utah.

While many people watched just to make sure their tax envelope got a 33-cent stamp and the important April 17 postmark, Dwyer sent his by certified mail.

"I send it certified so they can't come back on me," he said. "We are dealing with the government here. You have to document everything you do."

Dwyer, a local painting contractor, had his taxes done a week ago but held onto the check until the last day. He joined millions of people across the United States who watch their clocks, waiting up to the last minute to file their tax returns.

"We like to meet in line and talk," he speculated as to why many Americans procrastinate. "I owe money; that's why I waited."

Dwyer isn't alone. Carson resident Diane Lange was content to watch her envelope get a postmark, but paying her taxes wasn't the most pleasurable experience of her Monday.

"I owed for the first time in my life," she said. "It would have been simpler to do it ahead of time, but I was kind of not wanting to write that check. I don't think waiting is the smartest thing to do."

Tell that to Carson residents Robert Buchannan or Steven Hauff, who were picking up tax forms Monday.

Buchannan waited because he, like many others, owes money.

"There's no reason to pay any earlier than I have to," he said. "It only takes 20 minutes to fill this out."

Hauff procrastinated, thinking he would owe money.

"I sat down last night to figure how much we would owe, and heck, we've got money coming back," Hauff said.

He had planned on filing an extension, but with a refund imminent, opted to find the right forms and get it sent off Monday.

About 8 million people will file for a four-month extension this year rather than fight the deadline, said Sharon Ward, Internal Revenue Service spokeswoman.

"I believe it's just the idea of taxes," she said. "It could be that it's time consuming. People think, 'I owe money,' and generally speaking they don't want to pay the money. And there's just procrastination."

Ward said if anyone missed the deadline, they can still file with a slight fine. There is no fine for those collecting a refund, and there is a three-year time line to collect a refund.

"Even if you didn't make the deadline, still file," Ward said. "Even if you can't pay, file the tax return. It's better late than never."

Procrastinators got an extra two days this year because the traditional date fell on a Saturday.

If they want to get a jump-start on next year, there are 362 days until April 15 next year's tax deadline.