Taxpayers who owe wait

Taxpayers who have to write a check to the state tend to wait until the very last day.

And the roster of procrastinating taxpayers includes folks who owe six figures or more, said state Budget Director Charlie Perusse.

"Folks who are required to pay final payments for the prior tax year, especially large income tax payers, hold onto their money as long as possible," Perusse said.

It's human nature to wait to write that check to the state. There's also a financial incentive — the money draws interest if a taxpayer hangs onto it.

All those checks getting mailed on the deadline is part of the reason why April numbers are a big deal for those writing the state budget. Perusse said the revenue department is still processing tax returns and it's too early to know whether the state's $3 billion budget deficit will grow or shrink.

In past years, the state has collected more than $1 billion in April. Officials have been pleasantly surprised in past years when the April numbers were even better than expected.

"Obviously the surprise could go either way," Perusse said.