IRS Spokeswoman says time running out for filing taxes; but, you can file for extension...
If you haven't filed your 2012 tax return yet... you have until Midnight tonight. That from IRS New York Spokeswoman Diane Besunder... who says if you aren't able to make the filing deadline... you can file for a six-month extension. However... Besunder says if you file Form 4868... you have to include your payment if you owe the federal or state governments money. She says it's only for paperwork, and last's until Oct. 15. You also have to include a "best estimate" of what taxes, if any, you owe Besunder says you can file for that on their website at www.irs.gov. The "Free File" option is available to filers who make $57,000 a year or less... and, Besunder says the e-file options are available though Oct. 15. She says if you're filing your own taxes... make sure to double-check for common errors. There are two in particular... one is signing the form, and the other is having the right social security numbers for you, your spouse, and dependents. Besunder says if you have you're return ready... but, don't have the money to pay if you owe money back... you can file... and, make as much of a payment as you can. She says there are various arrangments you can make to pay-off your tax debt... including paying in installments.
On this Tax Day, 2013, Congressman Reed says progress being made on tax reform...
As last minute filers work on their tax returns... Congressman Tom Reed says progress is being made in Washington when it comes to achieving comprehensive tax reform. Reed, who is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, says there are several bi-partisan working groups now looking at ways to make the tax code simpler and fairer. He says there's been a shift from a year-and-a-half ago when he first went on the committee, and people were saying "don't waste you're time on it, it's not going to happen." While lawmakers have come a long way... Reed says the White House needs to take the lead. He says they not only have to include corporate tax reform... but, address the impact on individuals as well. Reed says a more "common sense approach" is needed to the nation's tax code which totals over 70,000 pages... and, costs Americans nearly $160-billion each year to navigate.
One person hurt in two-car crash Monday morning in town of Ellery...
A Brocton woman was hurt in a two-car accident on Route 380 in the town of Ellery Monday morning that led to the other driver being ticketed for using a cell phone. Sheriff's officers say 34 year-old Jeremy Ranney of Stockton was southbound shortly after 8 a.m. when he went to make a left turn onto Sinclair Drive Extension. Deputies say the other driver... 40 year-old Holly Roman... was also southbound, and tried to pass in a no passing zone. However... her car struck Ranney's. Roman was taken to WCA Hospital for treatment of injuries. Ranney was not hurt. He is charged with use of cell phone... and, having an uninspected motor vehicle. Roman was ticketed for passing in a now passing zone.
Standardized testing for English and math begin today in NYS...
Standardized testing of 3rd-through 8th-graders on English and math begins in New York's public schools today. But... parents and school boards are speaking out about the Common Core standards... and, what they see as an over-emphasis on testing. One school board voted to tell the state education commissioner the tests negatively impact students -- and parents on Long Island are opting to exempt their children from the testing. The head of the state's teachers union, Dick Iannuzzi, says students are going to be tested on material they haven't been taught yet. He says polling commissioned by his union showed 91-percent of parents say students have not had enough time to work with the Common Core learning standards. The Department of Education says the assessments are designed to improve classroom instruction and get better results in the graduation rate and college and career readiness.
JHS Winterguard brings home Silver Medal from World Championships in Ohio...
"Ambition" and "determination" were the key ingredients that pushed the Jamestown High School Express Winterguard to win a silver medal in the World Championships at Dayton, Ohio late last week. In fact... they came within 5-one-thousandths of a point to taking the gold medal. A team from Bellbrook, Ohio edged out Jamestown in the finals. The Jamestown squad was welcomed by a police and fire escort when they returned home last night. Senior Winterguard member Lexi Paulson says starting out the season... they never really expected to do so well this year. Lexi says they've become such a "strong family..." and, they just really wanted to do well. Director Marc Lentsch says when the results came out late Friday night... the team was a little disappointed... but only for a short time. He says their season was more about performing, friends and family. Winterguard takes the tools of the outdoor color guard inside... to tell a story to music. Jamestown High School finished 24th in the finals last year. As a result of Express Winterguard's great finish this year... the team will move up next year from the "Scholastic A Division" to the "Scholastic Open DIvision."
