I thought in the last days before the income tax deadline I might share with you some interesting tax facts and tips.

In the category of “this is why you should pay your taxes,” Richard Hatch, the first “Survivor” television contestant to win $1 million, is sitting in a jail right now because he didn’t pay his fair share to Uncle Sam.

Hatch is being held until his sentencing this month on the tax evasion charges. The charges carry a maximum of 13 years in prison. He probably won’t get that much time but hey, any time in jail would be too long for me.

A federal jury in Providence, R.I., found Hatch guilty for failing to report to the Internal Revenue Service the money he won on the “Survivor” show and an additional $391,000 in income from a half-dozen other sources.

Amazingly, according to evidence submitted during the trial, Hatch asked an accountant to prepare an alternate return for informational purposes only so that he could see what his tax situation would be without his reality show earnings. He then ignored a warning from the accountant that he should not file that return.

The kicker? Based on that phony return that he filed anyway, Hatch was due a $4,483 refund. Unbelievable.

Some of you might not be cheating at the level that Hatch did, but you are cheating nonetheless. A poll taken last month by Yahoo found 38 percent of those surveyed have been dishonest on past tax returns.

And what are the most popular ways to cheat, according to the Yahoo poll?

Thirty-six percent said they under-reported income. Eight percent deducted work expenses previously reimbursed.

If you do cheat on your tax return, consider what U.S. Atty. Robert Clark Corrente said after Hatch was found guilty: “Paying taxes is an ordeal but it is every citizen’s obligation to pay them honestly and fully.”

Lying might help you win on a reality show but when it comes to your taxes, this is not a game.

Hopefully you know that this year you have an extra two days before your tax return is due. Tax returns are due Monday.

Please keep in mind that filing an extension for your return does not grant you an extension to pay.

Still looking for some last-minute tax tips and you’d like to get your information by video or audio? Try PodZinger, a free online site that searches for podcast content.

PodZinger.com will link you directly to the portion of a video or audio broadcast for the information you want. For example, I typed in “tax tips” and received various links to experts who have appeared recently on major networks.

As they say in baseball, we’re heading into the homestretch. So if you’ve done your return, good for you. Start tax planning for next year because it’s never too early.

If you’re not done, what are you waiting for? Stop procrastinating.