"Last-minute tips for filing your taxes before the deadline"

Tax Day is on April 18, and taxpayers who fail to file by the deadline face hefty penalties. The IRS has processed more than 101 million returns, with the average refund to taxpayers at $2,878, down from $3,175 at the same time a year earlier. Taxpayers can file for a tax extension for free, but it only extends the deadline to file the return, not to pay any owed taxes. There are several services that offer free tax return prep, including IRS Free File, to file your federal return for free.