1 MILLION TAX RETURNS STILL OUT IN STATE

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- Twenty-one days and counting.

That's the situation facing thousands of Missouri taxpayers today as they look to the April 15 midnight mailing deadline for U.S. income tax returns.

With three weeks remaining before the penalty deadline, only 900,000 Missourians have filed their taxes for the 1990 tax year.

"This is up from a year ago," said Nova Felton, public-affairs officer of the Missouri District Internal Revenue Service office in St. Louis, "But, with 2.1 million people expected to file in Missouri this year, we still have more than a million returns left out there."

Felton said returns have come in bunches.

"February was a good return month," she said. "But things slowed in early March and are just beginning to pick up again. We're expecting things to be rushed over the next three weeks."

The story is about the same in Cape Girardeau.

"We're going into our busy time," said Lee Kimmell, of H&R Block Tax Service. "Things started coming on like gangbusters in mid-January, then slowed until February. We were rushed in February, but things have slowed the early part of March."

Kimmell said, however, that returns were up over a year ago.

The tax-return trends locally, statewide and nationally are about the same.

Nationally, a total of about 51 million people have filed returns, up from the 50 million who had filed at this time a year ago.

"A lot of people receiving refunds have filed," said Felton. "To date, 70 percent of all returns have received refunds."

Felton and Kimmell agreed that may be the reason for an increase in electronic returns, which can result in quicker refunds.

"Electronic returns are almost double those of a year ago in the St. Louis and Missouri area," said Felton. "Last year was the first for electronic returns in Missouri, and about 85,000 people used them. This year more than 154,000 people have already utilized the electronic returns."

The IRS toll-free telephone number 1-800-829-1040 also has been busy this year. "We've received 100,000 more calls already this year," said Felton. "A lot more people are asking tax questions. We urge people to call us if they have a problem."

People also can call to check on their refunds, she said. "We tell people they should wait at least eight weeks before checking on the refunds," said Felton. The refund information number is (314)-829-4477.

Not all returns must be mailed by the April 15 deadline. Anyone serving in the Persian Gulf military and civilian have until Oct. 14 to file income taxes without penalty.

"This is for anyone who served in that area and who will be back in the U.S. by April 15," said Felton. "Anyone returning after April 15 will have 180 days to file from the date they leave the Persian Gulf."

Felton said those people serving in the gulf area who may have refunds and want to file their 1990 tax returns early should write "Desert Storm" across the top of their return and on the envelope.

Any individual may request a tax extension. "You can file a Form 4868 to request an automatic four-month extension of your 1040 or 1040A," said Felton. She pointed out, however, that the extension does not give you extra time for paying taxes you owe.

"You have a pretty good idea what you will be owing," she said. "Tax payment must be included with the Form 4868 request. If you erred in your tax estimated, you will have to pay interest on any taxes paid after April 15."

Additional information concerning the form is available by calling 1-800-829-4477.