BUFFALO — With the deadline for filing tax returns rapidly approaching, the United States Postal Service reminds last-minute filers to pay special attention to collection box pick-up times and Post Office retail hours on Monday.
Because today is a holiday in Washington D.C, federal taxes are due — or must be postmarked by — Monday. For this reason, two Western New York post offices will offer extended retail hours Monday. The Buffalo Cayuga Branch at 285 Cayuga Road and the Rochester Main Post Office at 1335 Jefferson Road will both remain open until 9 p.m.
Other Post Offices in Western NY will be open regular business hours on Monday. All USPS office, self-service kiosk and collection box location, hours, and pick-up time information is available at 1-800-ASK-USPS or online at www.usps.com.
The USPS offers the following tax mailing tips:
- On Monday, mail early in the day at any Post Office, station, branch or collection box.
- If depositing returns in a collection box on April 18, double-check the pick-up schedule on the label. To ensure getting the April 18th postmark, deposit returns before the last scheduled pick-up time.
- Stamped packages weighing more than 13 ounces must be presented in person to a Post Office clerk to comply with FAA regulations.
- Affix the appropriate postage, especially since the item may weigh more than an ounce. Have a postal sales and service associate weigh and rate the item for you. Tax agencies will not pay postage due and your short-paid return will be returned to sender – and you may miss the deadline (tip: 5 pages equals approximately one ounce).
- Furthermore, it is very important that your envelope has a return address. Short-paid items without a return address will be sent to the postal mail recovery office for determination of the sender, delaying its return.
- The USPS highly recommends getting the security of proof of mailing and proof of delivery of your tax returns — use certified mail service with a return receipt, 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).
- Mail must be deposited before the last collection time at the post office or collection box on April 18 to receive an April 18th postmark.
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