Because Emancipation Day (April 16) is a legal holiday in the District of Columbia, in certain years it will have implications for taxpayers nationwide with respect to the filing deadlines for all federal tax forms and payments required to be filed or completed on or before April 15, including the Form 1040 series tax returns.

In 2011, Emancipation Day falls on a Saturday. As a result, it is observed on the preceding Friday (April 15); consequently, the filing deadline for all federal tax forms and payments required to be filed or completed on or before April 15 (including the Form 1040 series of returns), is Monday, April 18.

In future years, should Emancipation Day fall on a Sunday, then the following Monday (April 17) would be the observed date and the filing deadline for all federal tax forms and payments required to be filed or completed on or before April 15, would be Tuesday, April 18. If it should fall on a Monday, then that Monday (April 16) would be the holiday and the filing deadline for all federal forms and payments required to be filed or completed on or before April 15, would be Tuesday, April 17.

Most, but not all, states also extend the filing deadline when Emancipation Day creates a federal holiday on what would normally be the filing deadline for state forms and payments.

Source: Notice 2011-17, Internal Revenue Bulletin 2011-10, dated March 7, 2011

For Notice 2011-017, see http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-11-17.pdf