Postal Service Prepares for Last Minute Tax Filers

White Plains, NY —Tax filers can choose from more than 60 Westchester District Post Offices that are open until 7:00 p.m. weeknights, and until 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays to mail their tax returns. On Wednesday, April 15, Retail Sales and Service Associates will be available to postmark any tax returns brought to the retail service window until 7:00 p.m. in the locations listed at the end of this release. Customers can call 1-800-ASK-USPS for the location closest to their ZIP Code. Post Office and collection box location, hours, and pick-up time information is available at http://usps.whitepages.com/post_office.

In addition, the Automated Postal Center (APC) which has 24/7 access throughout the year is available in several offices. The APC provides quick, easy, and convenient access for postal products and services just as ATMs have provided for banking customers, but with no extra fee. An Automated Postal Center is located at the following Post Offices: Hartsdale, Hopewell Junction, Larchmont, Monsey, Mt. Kisco, Nanuet, New City, Poughkeepsie South Road Post Office, Rye, Sloatsburg, Yonkers (East Station), Yorktown Heights, Wappingers Falls, and White Plains.Note APC postmarks are not valid when filing tax returns.

The James A Farley Main Post Office at 421 Eight Avenue, New York City, NY across the street from Madison Square Garden, will be open until midnight on April 15.

The Postal Service suggests the following tax mailing tips:

• Make sure you have proper postage, especially if you have extra forms or schedules. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will not accept tax filings without postage or with insufficient postage. The IRS returns all tax filings with insufficient postage to the sender, who is then charged with late-payment penalties. It costs 42-cents for a one ounce letter and 17-cents for each additional ounce. One ounce is about four pages.
• If you use a non-IRS labeled envelope, make sure you have the proper IRS address. Also, put your return address in the upper left-hand corner.
• Mail early in the day if you can, so you can save yourself a trip to the late collection locations and avoid traffic and the last-minute rush.
• Don’t use an office postage meter. The IRS doesn’t accept private postmarks as proof of timely filing.
• If you are depositing a tax return on April 15th in a blue Post Office collection box, be sure to mail it before the latest collection time posted on the box.
• The Postal Service recommends getting the security of proof-of-mailing and proof-of-delivery of your tax returns — use certified mail service ($2.70) with a return receipt ($2.20), plus the applicable postage.
• Tax forms are no longer available at Post Offices. Check at local libraries or online at http://www.irs.gov/ (Federal forms) or http://www.tax.state.ny.us/forms/ (NYS forms).
• Stamped packages weighing more than 13 ounces must be presented in person to a Post Office clerk to comply with FAA regulations.