AUGUSTA – Approximately 48,000 Maine taxpayers who received a six-month extension to file their 2005 income tax return have less than a month remaining. The deadline to file the tax return is Oct. 16.

This year, for the first time, taxpayers automatically were granted a six-month extension to file their tax return rather than a four-month extension.

Taxpayers who have yet to complete their tax return are encouraged to use IRS e-file to submit their return electronically or use Free File to electronically prepare and send their return. Both IRS e-file and Free File will remain available for individual taxpayers through the extension period.

“Don’t wait until the last minute to file your tax return. If you start now, you can make sure your return is accurate and that you’ve claimed all the credits and deductions available to you,” said Bert DuMars, IRS electronic tax administration director. “The easiest way to ensure an accurate tax return is to use Free File and file your return electronically.”

Free File is the private-public partnership between the IRS and a consortium of tax preparation software manufacturers who formed the Free File Alliance. The group makes software and electronic filing available free to eligible taxpayers. Any taxpayer who earns $50,000 or less, which is 70 percent of all taxpayers, will find an available software program. Free File is available at IRS.gov.