ANCHOR: WELL, IT’S TAX DAY….TIME TO GET OFF THE COUCH AND FILE YOUR FEDERAL AND STATE TAX RETURNS.

ANCHOR: IF YOU HAVEN’T FILED YET, YOU’RE NOT ALONE. THE I-R-S ESTIMATES MORE THAN 8 MILLION AMERICANS WILL FILE THEIR RETURNS OR FOR AN EXTENSION TODAY. WGN’S MONEY-SAVING EXPERT ILYCE GLINK IS HERE WITH SOME SUGGESTIONS TO KEEP YOU CALM.

ILYCE: THE MESSAGE OF THE DAY IS … DON’T PANIC. IF YOU HAVEN’T FILED YET, YOU’VE STILL GOT ABOUT TWELVE HOURS TO GET YOUR RETURN IN THE MAIL. AND THERE ARE EVEN FASTER WAYS TO GET YOUR RETURN TO THE I-R-S WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. THE I-R-S IS PUSHING HARD TO GET MORE AMERICANS TO FILE ELECTRONICALLY.

ILYCE: IF THERE’S NO WAY YOU CAN GET YOUR RETURN DONE TODAY, YOU’LL NEED TO FILE AN EXTENSION. GO TO THE IRS WEBSITE AND DOWNLOAD FORM 4868, WHICH IS THE “APPLICATION FOR AN AUTOMATIC EXTENSION OF TIME.” THAT WILL GIVE YOU UNTIL AUGUST 15TH TO FILE YOUR PAPERWORK. YOU CAN EVEN REQUEST AN EXTENSION VIA PHONE. CALL THE IRS TOLL FREE AT (888) 796-1074. YOU WILL OWE YOUR REGULAR TAX PAYMENT, OR AT LEAST 90 PERCENT OF WHAT YOU THINK YOU WILL OWE THIS YEAR. BUT IF YOU CALL THE I-R-S, YOU CAN GIVE PERMISSION FOR AN ELECTRONIC TRANSFER OF FUNDS, OR YOU CAN DO IT OVER THE INTERNET. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CHECK OUT THE I-R-S WEBSITE AT I-R-S.GOV. I’VE PUT ALL THIS INFORMATION UP ON THE WGNTV.COM HOME PAGE, SO CLICK ON THE STORY AND LOOK FOR THE RESOURCES SECTION.

ILYCE: IF YOU LIVE IN THE CIT OF CHICAGO, AND YOU EARN LESS THAN $35,000 A YEAR, YOU CAN STILL GET ASSISTANCE FROM QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS AND FILE YOUR TAXES FOR FREE THROUGH THE CITY OF CHICAGO’S FREE TAX ASSISTANCE PROGRAM. THERE ARE SITES THROUGHT OUT CHICAGO. BE SURE TO ASK IF YOU QUALIFY FOR THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT, AND IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT IS, CHECK OUT THE STORY I DID A FEW WEEKS AGO AT WGNTV.COM>. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT OR TO FIND A CITY TAX HELP SITE NEAR YOU, CALL THE CITY’S NON-EMERGENCY NUMBER 3-1-1 OR GO TO THE CITY’S WEBSITE, CITYOFCHICAGO.ORG.

NOW FOR MY MONEY-SAVING TIP OF THE WEEK: IT’S GETTING TO BE PROM TIME FOR LOAN HIGH SCHOOLS, AND SOME GIRLS ARE HEADING TO THE NEAREST DEPARTMENT STORE TO GET ALL DOLLED UP. BUT THAT’S A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY SPENT FOR ONE NIGHT. INSTEAD, CONSIDER ORGANIZING A PROM DRESS EXCHANGE AT SCHOOL.

YOU CAN INVITE SENIORS AND NEIGHBORHOOD COLLEGE STUDENTS TO BRING IN THE DRESSES, SHOES AND PURSES THEY WORE THE YEAR BEFORE, AND LINE THEM UP IN THE SCHOOL GYM. NOTHING SHOULD COST MORE THAN $50, WHICH WILL ALLOW SOME GIRLS TO PURCHASE A COMPLETE OUTFIT FOR LESS THAN $100.

CONSIDER DONATING LEFTOVER DRESSES TO NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS WHO CAN DISTRIBUTE THEM TO STUDENTS IN OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS. YOU CAN ALSO DONATE ANY CASH THE PROM DRESS EXCHANGE BRINGS IN TO A LOCAL NON-PROFIT SHELTER.

FOR MORE MONEY-SAVING TIPS OR TO GET A FEW ADDITIONAL TAX PHONE NUMBERS AND WEBSITES, LOG ONTO WGNTV.COM OR THINKGLINK.COM.