Federal Tax Return Deadline Coming Soon

The deadline to file your federal tax returns is now just days away and the IRS is extending its customer service hours.

The IRS toll-free telephone lines will be available Saturday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The toll-free line is 800-829-1040.

The first two weeks of April are typically some of the busiest times of the year for IRS telephone assistors, as they field thousands of calls per hour. 

And if you are in a hurry to get your taxes done and in on time, the IRS also warns taxpayers to be careful of some common tax scams. 

In recent years, thousands of people have lost millions of dollars and their personal information to tax scams and fake IRS communication. 

Scammers use the regular mail, telephone, fax or email to set up their victims.  

IRS spokesman Mark Green said Georgia ranks 14th in the nation for the number of taxpayers falling victim to tax scams. 

Scammers, he said, are even turning to social media such as Twitter to peddle fraudulent refund offers.

Green advises last-minute tax filers to use caution, even when picking a tax preparer.

Again, if you have any questions about preparing your 2016 return or believe you may have been the victim of a tax scam, you can contact the IRS at 800-829-1040 toll-free.