This year, taxes are due on Monday, April 18th. That means you have one week to complete your preparation and file.

If you've already done the prep work and completed your forms and you're just waiting to file because you have to pay, I'd file on Friday. that way, if you have any difficulties, you'll still have time to work them out. If the government owes you money, what are you waiting for? The IRS transfers refunds to bank accounts on Fridays. If you file soon, your refund should transfer either this Friday or next.

If you haven't started the prep work, that's task #1 tonight. At the very least, before you go to bed tonight, you should have all your records collected in one place. It will be very difficult to find a paid preparer at this late date, so you are more likely to have to do your own taxes. I'm pretty good at it and it takes me several hours. You'll want a substantial bloc of uninterrupted time — that means no tv, music, or other interruptions.

No matter how much money you earn, you can file for free using the forms on the IRS site — but, having done it, I strongly recommend doing your taxes on paper first and then filling in their forms. You'll need to do several of the worksheets (capital gains, alternative minimum tax, etc.) on your own before you try to file online.

If you're done, sit back with a good book or build up sleep to get ready for the Stanley Cup playoffs!