The Internal Revenue Service today urged taxpayers eligible for the economic stimulus payment to file their tax return now in order to get their payment in a timely manner.

Unclaimed refunds totaling approximately $1.2 billion are awaiting about 1.3 million people who failed to file a federal income tax return for 2004, the Internal Revenue Service announced today. However, to collect the money, a return for 2004 must be filed with an IRS office no later than Tuesday, April 15, 2008.

Although the IRS today confirmed a tax filing delay for millions of taxpayers claiming any of five popular credits related to AMT calculations, a survey conducted Dec. 18 to 20 for H&R Block (NYSE:HRB), the country’s largest tax preparation firm, revealed that a majority of taxpayers questioned were unaware of the potential tax filing delay created by the recent passage of the AMT legislation.

As the Sept. 17 deadline approaches for calendar year filers of corporate returns who filed for extensions, the IRS urges certain corporate filers to be aware of their obligation to file electronically.

IRS Will Accept Paper Forms 2290 in Interim

The Internal Revenue Service today granted a six-month tax filing and payment extension to those affected by the shootings Monday at Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg, Va. This relief applies to the victims, their families, emergency responders and university students and employees.

There's less than a week left to file your state income tax returns. Having trouble getting started? Here are a few last minute tax tips for Californians.

Taxpayers have an extra two days to file their personal income tax returns in Massachusetts this year. The deadline for filing income tax returns is extended to Tuesday, April 17, 2007, because April 15 falls on a Sunday and Monday, April 16 is the Patriot's Day holiday. (Coincidentally, federal income tax returns also are due on April 17 this year because April 16 is a legal holiday in Washington, D.C.)