By Carl Weiser
Enquirer Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Tax procrastinators, rejoice.

The House is expected to vote today on a bill that would extend the annual tax-filing deadline to April 30 - but only for people who file electronically.

The goal, said sponsor Rep. Rob Portman, R-Terrace Park, is to get more taxpayers to file via computer. Electronically filed tax returns cost less to process and have fewer errors.

Now, about four in 10 Americans file electronically. The goal is to get to eight in 10, he said.

Portman acknowledged that taxpayers might lose their focus on April 15 - "that magic date" - but said it was more important to encourage e-filing.

The Internal Revenue Service saves $1 for every return filed electronically, said spokeswoman Nancy Mathis.

This year, the IRS will process 52 million electronic tax returns.

There is no Senate version of the legislation. The Bush administration supports the change in date, having suggested it last year, said Treasury spokeswoman Tara Bradshaw.

E-mail cweiser@gns.gannett.com