U. S. Postal Service Describes Plans to Assist Last Minute Tax Filers

Tulsa OK — With the deadline for filing income tax returns rapidly approaching, the U. S. Postal Service is bracing for the annual rush of last minute tax filers. Tulsa Postmaster, Kathy Ervin-Johnson, says customers should consider mailing their federal and state tax returns before the Tuesday, April 15th deadline to avoid any last minute rush to their local Post Office.

For those who do wait until the last minute, the Postmaster asks customers to make note of the following service provisions:

• The Tulsa Downtown Station, 333 W 4th Street, will collect tax returns until midnight April 15th. As in years past, employees will be manning curbside stations along Denver Ave. to collect tax returns from customers driving by. Beginning at 4:30 P.M. representatives from Chick-Fil-A and the "Eat Mor Chikin" Cows will be on hand to distribute sandwiches and coupons to the first 2,000 folks who drop off their tax returns at the Downtown Station.
• The Air Mail Facility, 2601 N Cargo Rd., is a full service retail facility with normal business hours until 11:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. On Tuesday, April 15th retail service and the acceptance of tax returns will be available until midnight at this location.
• Automated Postal Centers are available at several locations and are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The APC lets customers weigh and mail letters and parcels and purchase stamps. It does not accept cash, but it does accept debit and credit cards to dispense postage in any amount for Express Mail®, Priority Mail®, First-Class Mail®, and Parcel Post® services. It also provides mailing information, ZIP Code™ lookup, and Delivery Confirmation™ services. Customers who wish to send their tax return by certified mail with a return receipt may do so from an Automated Postal Center.
  
  Automated Postal Center Locations:
  

  Donaldson Station	1423 Terrace Dr.
  Eastside Station	2920 S. 129th East Ave.
  RW Jenkins Station	6910 S. Yorktown
  Sheridan Station	6110 E. 51st St.
  Southeast Station	9023 E. 46th St.

The Postal Service offers the following advice to tax filers:

• Use First-Class postage.
• Use pre-addressed labels where possible. Write clearly. Take special care to ensure that handwritten envelopes are legible, and include a return address.
• Affix sufficient postage. One ounce is 41 cents; each additional ounce up to 13 ounces costs an additional 17 cents.
• Double-check postage. Weigh any return that feels heavier than one ounce. Tax agencies do not accept postage due mail; tax returns bearing insufficient postage will be returned - meaning taxpayers may be penalized for filing late tax returns.
• Avoid the mad rush at the post office. Mail returns in local collection boxes, but remember to make certain that the posted pick-up time has not passed to ensure returns will have an April 15th postmark.
• For customers who send original receipts to tax agencies, registered mail is a good choice.
• Make certain bulky envelopes are securely sealed.

Remember, when you mail your taxes with the U.S. Postal Service your return is considered filed if postmarked by April 15th!