Briefcase: Holiday moves IRS tax due date to April 17

Holiday moves IRS tax due date to April 17

An obscure Washington, D.C., holiday means that for the second year in a row, federal tax returns aren’t due on the traditional date of April 15.

Emancipation Day is observed on April 16 in Washington, D.C., each year, commemorating the emancipation of slaves there.

Because April 15 falls on a Sunday and the following day is a holiday for workers in Washington, taxes aren’t due until April 17 this year, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Addy Hatch

Macy’s Inc. to close underperforming stores

CINCINNATI – Macy’s Inc. says it will close five Macy’s and four Bloomingdale’s stores that are underperforming.

Clearance sales will begin at the stores Sunday and run for 10 weeks.

More than 830 workers will be affected by the closings – 375 at Macy’s and 463 at Bloomingdale’s stores. But many may have the option of taking jobs at new stores the company plans to open.

The closing Macy’s stores are in Topeka, Kan.; Laurel, Md.; Parma, Ohio; Antioch, Tenn.; and Texas City, Texas. The Bloomingdale’s closures are in Atlanta; Oak Brook, Ill.; North Bethesda, Md.; and in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.

Macy’s previously announced the opening of five new Macy’s stores and one replacement store. They are planned in Victorville, Calif.; Gurnee, Ill.; The Bronx, N.Y.; Salt Lake City; and Greendale, Wis. The replacement store will be built in Bay Shore, N.Y.

Workers at closing stores will be offered jobs at nearby stores if possible, and those who are laid off will get severance benefits, the company said.

Associated Press

Disney and Comcast extend partnership

LOS ANGELES – The Walt Disney Co. said Wednesday that it reached a long-term agreement with the nation’s largest TV signal provider, Comcast Corp., that extends their partnership into the next decade.

The 10-year deal covers major pay channels ESPN, Disney Channel and ABC Family and the retransmission of free ABC broadcast network programs through seven ABC TV stations. It allows Comcast subscribers to gain greater access to shows on demand over the Internet on multiple devices.

Terms were not disclosed.

Disney and Comcast agreed on the package covering 70 channels or services even though only a few agreements covering ABC Family, Disney Channel and Disney XD had expired at the end of 2011. The companies agreed that a long-term comprehensive deal was in both their interests.

Associated Press