Originally Published in Darien Patch.

Some of the major changes include an extended tax return deadline and the return of the estate tax.

The “Taxman” is a dreaded image, as most of us cannot even begin to understand many of the rules, rates and regulations that make up our tax laws. Things can get even harder when they make changes—and some of the practices you’ve been used to over the years can now result in an audit. Patch is here to help you understand some of the differences coming for 2011.

There is one change this year that everyone can appreciate: an April 18 tax return deadline.

“Washington, D.C., has a national holiday [Emancipation Day] that falls on April 15, so the due date is always the following day on April 16,” said Barbara Vondra, a Darien resident who has run her own practice here for the past eight years. “Well, because this year April 15 falls on a Friday their holiday is technically a Saturday, but because holidays [aren't observed on weekends], they have until Monday to file their tax returns.”

The extra time is a welcome relief for those who have a habit of waiting until the last second to file their tax returns and now gives everyone the weekend to make sure they do it right. Vondra recommends using the time to plan for the future. “You kind of have to look at your whole tax situation, look at where your next year is going to be, where this year is going to be and do some tax planning in that respect,” she said.