In history class, we read about the Emancipation Proclamation.   As adults we are reminded of that history class as it is now honored as a holiday. This holiday will be observed on April 15, 2011 which is pushing back the tax deadline until April 18th, 2011.

A sigh of relief for those last minute filers. A friendly nudge… maximize your 2010 return and do not procrastinate. Take this time to make an appointment, gather your W2′s, receipts and other documents and file your return with a professional.

“The municipality of Washington D.C., celebrates April 16 as Emancipation Day. In 1862 on that day, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act for the release of certain persons held to service or labor in the District of Columbia.  The Act freed about 3,100 enslaved persons in the District of Columbia nine months before President Lincoln issued his famous Emancipation Proclamation. The District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation Act represents the only example of compensation by the federal government to former owners of emancipated slaves.

On January 4, 2005, Mayor Anthony Williams signed legislation making Emancipation Day an official public holiday in the District.

This year the tax deadline will be extended to April 18, 2011, since the observed date for the holiday will be April 15, 2011.”

Excerpt from Wikipedia.com, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_Day