PEORIA — Though there was no throwing tea into the river, there was singing, chanting, signs of protest and symbols of freedom.

A crowd estimated at more than 500 gathered outside the Peoria County Courthouse during the noon hour Wednesday to protest what they believe to be out-of-control government spending during a tax day "TEA (taxed enough already) party," designed to echo the rebellion of the Boston Tea Party. View Video

 "I want Washington to know where we stand. They are foolishly spending money. The bailout is not the cure," said Pauline Stuber of Tremont. "This is the people's money, not the government's money."

 The group carried signs that read "free market, not free rides," "born free, taxed to death" and "give me liberty, not debt" and signed a giant copy of the U.S. Constitution, which organizers say is being ignored by government.

PEORIA — Attention, procrastinators: It's Tax Day.

You have until midnight to file your tax return, whether that be electronically or by U.S. Postal Service. So if you haven't gotten down to business, now is the time to get started.

"Give yourself enough time to fill it out, then set it aside for a while, even if it's only long enough to get a cup of coffee or watch a TV show," said Internal Revenue Service spokeswoman Sue Hales. "Come back later and check it for accuracy before you send it."

Hales said an estimated 1.4 million Illinoisans wait until the last 24 hours to file their tax returns, and another 300,000 file for an extension during that time.

That translates into long lines at the post office.

Michael Clark, manager of finance for Peoria-area post offices, said he expects a 25 percent increase in stamped letters on Tax Day, as late filers rush to make deadline. The post offices have been busy all week, Clark said, and Tax Day will bring an extra surge.

"All of our retail units are experiencing the typical pre-Tax Day rush," Clark said Tuesday. "It hasn't been ridiculous, but you can see the difference in the parking lots."

Because of recent electronic advances, including automated postal centers and online tax filing, area post offices have not had extended hours for the past several years.

However, stamped mail can be dropped in the mailboxes outside the 95 State St. location until midnight and still make the deadline, but the other boxes will keep their normal collection times.

Hales encourages late filers to avoid lines at the post office and file their tax returns online at www.irs.gov.

"It's faster and more accurate," she said. "With paper filing, there is a 20 percent error rate. But if you file electronically, the error rate is less than 1 percent."