All you income tax return procrastinators, the time has run out.

Income Tax Day has arrived, and as history has shown, nearly 40 percent of the state's taxpayers traditionally wait until the last minute to file.

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service manager Diane Irick puts the message to late tax filers in a simple and direct fashion: "File, file file."

Opportunities to do so are plenty, Irick said.

Her office on Wingate Street in Orangeburg will be fully staffed with 14 tax preparers on site during daytime hours and eight at night. Office hours from 8 a.m. through 10 p.m. were the norm for the last couple days, and Tuesday hours will be further extended to 12 a.m.

"We don't take appointments, but we are staffed most of the time," Irick said, citing that traditionally the last 48 hours before tax deadline routinely see approximately 10 percent of returns filed.

Normally, Irick said Orangeburg taxpayers are more conscientious about filing on time, though, it is still not uncommon to find a number of late filers.

To make matters slightly easier, Irick said late returnees are "strongly encouraged" to file electronically which reduces often-times burdensome paperwork.

Despite this consistent advice, the story of procrastinators remains the same year-to-year.

"We do a lot of returns after the season," Irick said, reminding all that "There is a penalty for the balance due."

The current penalty is 5 percent of the tax amount if the failure is for not more than a month, with an additional 5 percent for each additional month the failure to file continues.

Though, electronic filing is the way to go say many of the experts, if one plans to file a paper return, the Orangeburg Post Office at 1550 Middleton St. will have boxes outside and in the lobby dedicated to dropping off tax forms.

Persons will be able to drop off forms to be postmarked April 15 until midnight on the date.

The S.C. Department of Revenue reported that as of April 10, total returns numbered 1,249,766 with approximately 820,536 or 65 percent filed electronically.

This number, SCDOR spokesperson Danny Brazell said, is about 40,000 ahead of this same time a year ago.

The department expects to receive more than 2.1 million income tax returns this year.

"There are some typical mistakes that happen when filers wait until the last minute," Brazell said, describing the procrastinating individual as one with a bundle of papers on the kitchen table feverishly having to compute all the necessary numbers at lightning speed. "The biggest mistakes we see are math problems."

Other errors caused by haste include a failure to attach all tax documents (W2 forms), a failure to properly provide document information and signatures, and forgetting the placement of postage.

These tendencies and dangers, however, seldom have an impact on a filer's habits.

A recent Snapple/Roper poll revealed that deadline-filers tend to take a rather nonchalant approach during the last few hours.

Only one in four Americans said they worry about meeting the deadline, while those preparing their own taxes actually experiencing less worry than those receiving assistance.

Younger adults (18-24), according to the poll, tend to experience more tension when filing.

Nonetheless, errors can prove costly.

The SCDOR has a number suggestions.

Those who choose electronic filing have until May 1 to file and pay any taxes owed. The extended deadline, however, does not apply to federal returns.

Taxpayers can download a Request for Extension of Time, form SC4868, from the department's Web site, www.sctax.org, if they think they will not be able to make the April 15 deadline for filing paper returns or the May 1 deadline for filing electronically.

Filing a request for an extension, however, does not mean the taxpayer has more time to pay. If a balance is due, it must be paid in full by April 15 and can be done so at the Web site using MasterCard or VISA, or by having funds withdrawn from the account -- on the day and date desired -- through the agency's Electronic Withdrawal Program.

"We go up every year," Brazell said, referring to the number of individuals using the electronic method. Last year, it is estimated that 41 percent of returns were filed this way.

A benefit to the taxpayer, -- refunds are normally received 12-14 days compared to the 10-12 weeks for paper refund -- electronic filing also benefits the state by cutting back on expenditures for paper, storage and employees.

This is all good news, Brazell said, for a state which led the way in electronic filing and in the percentage of taxpayers taking this approach.

The SCDOR is also giving last-minute tax filers an opportunity to file by offering a drive-through forms service at its headquarters, 301 Gervais St. (the same location as the State Museum.)

SCDOR employees will be on station in front of the office Tuesday, April 15, to hand out income tax forms from 7 a.m. through 6 p.m.

All state income tax forms are available at the drive-through service, and taxpayers do not have to exit their vehicles to receive assistance. Taxpayers will also be able to drop off their completed state and federal income tax returns at the drive-through.

Military personnel serving in a designated combat zone have 180 days after they leave the zone to file returns and pay any taxes owed.

Information on the filing extension and other tax relief can be found in the policy document Temporary Revenue Procedure #03-2, available at the DOR Web site under Policy Documents.

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551.

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