NATCHEZ — Residents filing their 2010 tax returns have less than one week to get everything in order and mailed to the Internal Revenue Service.

Silas Simmons LLP certified public accountant Ginga MacLaughlin said while the deadline for taxes is traditionally April 15, this year the deadline is April 18.

“There is a holiday in Washington, D.C., that affects the tax deadline for that area,” she said. “Because of this, the government extended the deadline for the whole country until April 18.”

MacLaughlin said tax returns must be postmarked before midnight on the 18th.

MacLaughlin said residents can still file for an extension on their tax returns if they do not have enough time to complete them by the Monday deadline.

“You do not have to put a reason for why you need an extension on the form, but the most obvious reason is that people just don’t have the time to do it,” she said.

MacLaughlin said individuals who are filing by themselves can go online and download an extension form from the IRS website to fill out for an extension, and anyone using an accountant service can just request an extension through their accountant.

MacLaughlin said people need to remember that when someone files an extension, it is only an extension to file.

“This is not an extension to pay what you owe,” she said. “If you know you are going to owe money when you file an extension, include that amount in your extension so they know you are going to pay.”

MacLaughlin said this tax season has been a busy one, and changes in the tax laws have been the cause.

“These changes came in late last year,” she said. “A lot of people have not felt comfortable enough filling them out themselves, so they have sought the help of professionals.”

MacLaughlin said she hasn’t seen a large difference in the number of people getting money back compared to paying.

“Usually they are about the same,” she said.

MacLaughlin said residents need to spend their next five days wisely and get their tax returns in on time.

“You always want to make sure you have it in on deadline,” she said. “You will save yourself a lot of trouble.”