If you're not already aware, here's some news you can probably use:

You'll have a couple of extra days to work on those tax returns this year.

The IRS has released its annual Kick-Off to Tax Season press release, and it includes an announcement that the deadline for filing individual tax returns has been extended to April 17, for a couple of reasons:

• April 15 falls on a Sunday this year.
  
• The following day is Emancipation Day, a holiday in Washington, D.C. "According to federal law," the IRS explains, "District of Columbia holidays impact tax deadlines in the same way that federal holidays do; therefore, all taxpayers will have two extra days to file this year."

Taxpayers who request an extension will have until Oct. 15 to file.

Here are a few more tax season details from the IRS:

• E-file and Free File returns can be submitted starting on Jan. 17.
  
• Tax help via video: In a bid to improve taxpayer assistance, the IRS is rolling out a new two-way video conferencing service in select locations, including Harrisburg, Pa. Here's a list of the pilot locations; other sites may be added in the future.
  
• Checking for refunds: Taxpayers can use "Where's My Refund?" or the IRS2Go mobile app to check the status of their refunds. IRS2Go is available for both Apple and Android devices.