BALTIMORE (Map, News) - Even Maryland’s chief tax collector waited until the last day to file his income tax return.

“Anything people can do to delay filing their taxes, they’ll do it,” Comptroller Peter Franchot said outside the G.H. Fallon Federal Building on Tuesday. “The economic mood is very uneasy, and tax time becomes a double whammy for them.

“I filed today,” Franchot added, laughing. “I’m speaking from personal knowledge.”

Franchot joined Internal Revenue Service representatives in Baltimore City to help last-minute filers fill out their tax returns, apply for extensions and complete the necessary paperwork to receive their economic stimulus payment.

At 8 a.m. Tuesday, the line of people waiting for tax assistance was out the door and wove around the building and through Hopkins Plaza, according to IRS representatives.

“We hope this becomes less and less of a story each year,” said Jim Dupree, spokesman for the IRS in Maryland. “We’re encouraging people not to wait until the last minute and file online.”

Those who waited until the final days to file or have not yet filed will have to wait a little longer to receive the stimulus payment, Dupree said. The IRS plans to mail the stimulus payments from May 16 to July 11. Direct deposit payments will be transmitted May 2, 9 and 16.

“The No. 1 question I’ve gotten is, ‘Am I going to have to pay this back?’ ” Dupree said. “No, you will not. You won’t get any bills from the IRS.”

Kyle Roberts, the IRS’s governmental liaison for Maryland, was helping people apply for extensions and fill out the forms for their economic stimulus payment. Roberts helped Rodney Hill, a retired veteran from Baltimore City, fill out his form to receive his rebate.

“They were a big help,” Hill said. “I thought I’d be here all afternoon waiting in line.”

The Comptroller’s Office deals with about 2.6 million returns and collects about $20 billion from taxpayers, Franchot said. And while April 15 has come and gone, the real work has just begun for Franchot and his staff.

“We’ve got a mountain of mail waiting for us in Annapolis,” Franchot said.

acannarsa@baltimoreexaminer.com

Comments from Examiner Readers

8:22 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 15, 2008 re: "Post offices stay open late for tax procrastinators"

Examiner Reader said:
What post offices are open today later than 7:30 p.m.?

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5:30 PM MST on Tue., Apr. 15, 2008 re: "Post offices stay open late for tax procrastinators"

Gizmo said:
It's pay day in the congress and Ted Kennedy is waiting for my check, it's his turn to buy a round at the Senate Bar.

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4:39 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 31, 2008 re: "Tax pros: Don�t forget deductions for education, savings, contributions"

Examiner Reader said:
This article should have been written in January... Better late than never...

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5:22 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007 re: "�No new taxes:� Md. groups rally against O�Malley�s tax hike plan"

Martin O'Malley said:
Stop criticizing me, you'd do the same thing if you were in my position. I'm the governor, I have the right to have more power and control over money. And the best way to do that is take it from the rich. They have the most of it, and besides, they don't protest and complain because they're too busy working.

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5:14 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007 re: "Republicans say poll a sneaky way to increase taxes"

Examiner Reader said:
The poll was done by "Alliance for Tax Fairness, a coalition of liberal advocacy groups". I'm sure that wasn't biased at all... What really cracks me up are these far left groups that throw "Progressive" in their title. Progressive to who/what, other than your socialist agenda? Is huge government "progress"? I don't think so, anyway.

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4:42 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007 re: "�No new taxes:� Md. groups rally against O�Malley�s tax hike plan"

reader said:
I think the politicians should stand and say to O'Malley, make the cuts and see where that lying, sack of crap will lay the blame then. Oh I forgot he can always blame Bob Ehrlich, even for the BGE lies he told us.

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4:12 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007 re: "�No new taxes:� Md. groups rally against O�Malley�s tax hike plan"

VJC College Republican said:
If Thomas Jefferson thought taxation without representation was bad, he should see it with representation!

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4:06 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007 re: "�No new taxes:� Md. groups rally against O�Malley�s tax hike plan"

Examiner Reader said:
Thanks Baltimore City and Prince Georges county for electing this tax and spend Democtat. You deserve all the taxes this wimp can impose

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3:05 AM MST on Tue., Oct. 30, 2007 re: "�No new taxes:� Md. groups rally against O�Malley�s tax hike plan"

Sven said:
Makes no never mind. O'Malley has got them where he wants them. Don't give him his tax increases and he will cut the funds to your county, teachers retirement, green programs and anything else to blackmail the legislators. M.O. WINS!

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12:24 PM MST on Tue., Aug. 7, 2007 re: "Republicans say poll a sneaky way to increase taxes"

Examiner Reader said:
Tax fairness� lol. How is it fair the I might be taxed more just because I happen to be successful? Am I using more State resources then someone who is less successful? I've got two kids in college but I don't qualify for any state aid on tuition because I've committed a sin against liberal sensibilities by making to much money. A lower income citizens kid gets the State tuition aid my kids are denied how�s that for fair. The 4% state tax on a $200,000 salary equates to a bigger contribution to the state coffers the 4% with held from a $35,000 salary so don't talk to me about fair taxation.

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4:40 PM MST on Fri., Aug. 3, 2007 re: "Republicans say poll a sneaky way to increase taxes"

Examiner Reader said:
Simple solutions to taxes, No Taxes except on purchases.... The rich would then pay and the poor would save. No employment tax!!

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2:28 PM MST on Fri., Aug. 3, 2007 re: "Republicans say poll a sneaky way to increase taxes"

Examiner Reader said:
Why is it that the folks who conduct these polls never speak with anybody I know?

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10:43 AM MST on Mon., Jun. 18, 2007 re: "Thousands of city properties on the market in tax auction"

Examiner Reader said:
I've searched everywhere for the list, including the Times for the list of properties. It has not yet made it to the OTR website. Anyone know where you can find this other than the original newspaper ad?

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