NATCHEZ — Employees at Silas Simmons are burning the midnight oil preparing taxes as the 2009 tax season wraps up.

“I’m probably working 80 hours a week right now,” CPA Nancy Kennedy said.

And as for the rest of the office preparing for the looming April 15 deadline, Kennedy said employees are coming in at 5:30 or 6 a.m. and staying until 10 p.m. seven days a week.

“It’s crunch time,” she said.

Despite the economic recession, Kennedy said she hasn’t seen a complete lag in clients, for those trying to save money by filing their own taxes.

An influx of new clients has balanced everything out, she said.

Kennedy said there is a push to carefully file taxes this year so as not to make a mistake, either in having to pay more taxes, or not getting a full return.

A new president always worries taxpayers, she said, because certain tax laws and exemptions could change.

Kennedy said 41 percent of the clients’ returns have been sent off — an improvement from last years’ 39 percent at the same time period.

That’s still less than half, and that’s why Kennedy said the CPA’s are flooded with paperwork.

And more paperwork is coming through the front door each day.

But Kennedy said all clients turning in paperwork after April 1 will probably have to ask for an extension in filing their taxes.

Taxpayers who have not yet filed should likely ask for an extension, Kennedy said.

It is not uncommon to ask for extensions, she said.