A little-known holiday is buying procrastinators a few extra days to file their tax returns this year.

The deadline has been moved to April 18 because Washington, D.C., will celebrate Emancipation Day on April 15, and by law, holidays there affect tax deadlines the same way federal holidays do.

Emancipation Day, held in observance of the district's freeing of slaves, is typically April 16, but this year it falls on a Saturday and is being observed the previous day.

As another notable change, the Internal Revenue Service will no longer send out paper tax forms, said Mark Green, spokesman with the IRS in Atlanta.

Nationally, about 70 percent of Americans file their taxes electronically and in Georgia, that number is even higher, Green said.

Last year in Georgia, 3.1 million of the 4 million tax returns filed were done so online.

"Paper returns are not necessarily a thing of the past, but it is a sign of the times in regards to more individuals are using electronic filing versus the paper returns," Green said. "It's a cost savings as well, by not giving out the paper documents and forms, that's a lot of money to be saved."

Individuals still seeking a paper tax return can call the IRS's toll free number, print one from online or pick up one at a local library.

The IRS began accepting tax returns Jan. 14.

Individuals with an adjusted gross income less than $58,000 can use free filing software available on the IRS website.

In Hall County, there are several organizations also offering free guidance.

Families with a gross annual income of $39,000 or less can receive free help at the Gainesville-Hall County Community Service Center, where volunteers are certified through an IRS-approved program.

AARP also runs a free nationwide tax assistance program. Started in 1968, the program has helped nearly 50 million low- to moderately low-income families.

There are several AARP tax help locations in Northeast Georgia, including four in Gainesville, and sites in Dahlonega, Cleveland and Helen.