The extra days was given to make up for the fact that April 15 fell on a Sunday and Monday is Emancipation Day, which is a Washington D.C. holiday which commemorates the end of slavery in the district. Thus, as written in the U.S. Tax Code, which says that filing deadlines cannot fall on a Saturday, Sunday or a holidays, the official tax form filing deadline is April 17.
If you can remember, last year's tax date deadline in the U.S. was April 18, due to similar reasons as this year.
According to the Internal Revenue Service, they are expecting more than 144 million individual tax returns this season with most of them waiting to file until the final date of April 17. As of last week, there are already about 99 million returns filed and tax refunds averaging around $2,784 have already been given to taxpayers.
One last tip for our American friends, if you think you can't finish on time, then you just just submit Form 4868 which will give you a six-month extension on your due date. You can file the tax form in person in the nearest post office or tax preparer - or you can even file form 4868 online using your smartphone with some available apps.