Tax Plus owner Chris Cochran has been working 14-hour days to try to process his customers’ taxes over the past few days. Tonight marks the deadline for filing taxes or filing extensions and local tax preparation agencies are feeling the pressure.

“It’s been just as busy as ever,” Cochran said. “There are a lot of businesses that we take care of that will require more time.”

At this point, most tax preparation businesses are helping their customers file extensions since there is not enough time to process new clients’ taxes.

“Beginning April 1, we work primarily on filing extensions,” said Al Morgan, an enrolled agent at Tax Prep and Representation and Bookkeeping. “It’s been nonstop and the closer we get, the more nonstop it seems to get. There are so many people filing late or requesting extensions and at this point in time, all we can do for them is file an extension.”

The high traffic coming through the doors at tax prep agencies will not taper off for a while.

“Even after the deadline, we’ll still need to work with people who have filed for an extension,” Cochran said. Oct. 15 is the last day to file taxes for those who got an extension and Cochran said there will be people coming in up until the last minute.

The process of filing taxes has become easier ever since the Internal Revenue Service began allowing taxes to be filed electronically. The IRS offers various electronic payment options to taxpayers to make it as easy as possible to make a full or partial payment with their return. Taxpayers can make payments online, by phone using a credit or debit card or through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System. Taxpayers who e-file their return may use the electronic funds withdrawal option for submitting an electronic payment.

“A lot is being done electronically, so tax refunds are usually processed within 48 hours,” Morgan said. “It’s the quickest way to get your refund.”

This tax season differs from last year in that parts of President Obama’s stimulus plan affect how some people, including new parents and new homeowners, file their taxes.

"Because of these kind of changes, we are helping these people make sure they get the tax credits that they should," Morgan said. For more information about filing taxes, visit www.irs.gov.