Taxes: Of life's two certainties, the only one for which you can get an automatic extension.
~Author Unknown

Danielle Hoston: Nobody likes to do their taxes. Well ... I guess tax accountants and those of us expecting refunds actually enjoy doing taxes but the rest of us look forward to our taxes just about as much as our dental appointments. Keep this information in mind before letting today's deadline pass you by:

1. You will avoid the "failure to file" penalty if you at least file a "Request for Extension" on your tax return. Take 5 minutes and fill out Form 4868 online.
2. Filing an extension for your tax return is not an extension of your payment deadline. While you will not be penalized for failing to file, you will accrue interest on the amount of tax owed. The current interest rate for unpaid federal income taxes is 5% per month of the net tax due. These interest rates adjust on a quarterly basis.
3. If you cannot afford to pay your full tax liability, you have options. You can make a partial payment to avoid unnecessary interest or you can attach Form 9465 to your tax return and request an installment payment program.

Don't let the price of procrastination compound your tax liability more than necessary. The worst thing you can do is NOT COMMUNICATE with the IRS. Inevitably, a relatively small tax liability can become a huge nightmare when penalties, compounding interest, auditers, liens, and forced sales become involved. For more information, I strongly recommend seeking the advice of a tax professional or visiting IRS.gov.

Danielle Hoston is a business and finance expert with Hoston and Associates. She is the mom of one and resides in Los Angeles.