Tax Day - April 15, 2025 | Spirit Of The Holidays

Still rifling through a pile of 2018 receipts? Welcome to America’s annual financial headache. It’s Tax Day, April 15 — and the Internal Revenue Service’s patience has just run out.

Unless you’re due for a hefty refund (or working as a highly-paid accountant), Tax Day doesn’t usually spark much joy. This year’s Form 1040 appears shorter, but filing taxes remains way too complicated for most Americans to do alone.

It wasn’t always this way.

The IRS didn’t appear on the scene until 1862. That’s when the federal government began “to assess, levy, and collect taxes through its power to seize property and income.”

Still struggling? You can always look into filing an extension to get some extra time.

How to Observe Tax Day

Break out the 'income tax' cocktail

This is a real drink — basically a Bronx cocktail (gin, sweet vermouth, dry vermouth, and orange juice) with a splash of bitters, as a nod to the bittersweet nature of the day.

Host a tax potluck party

Friends don't let friends do taxes alone. Why not make a party of it instead? And as you work through all the forms, you can give awards for the most creative deductions or person with the biggest return coming their way.

Make a vow to start earlier in 2020

That way you'll have more time to spend April 15 enjoying National Laundry Day.

Why Tax Day is Important

It's a forced financial check-up

W-2s and 1099s. Banking statements and donation receipts. There's a lot of paperwork you need to pull together to be able to do your taxes (even if you have help). But once it's all there, you can see how much you made last year and where the money went.

One word: deductions

You start to see the different ways you can get money back — like mortgage interest, donations, and even unreimbursed job-related education. Once you figure out a strategy, you can start planning for 2020.