Lihu‘e post office offers Tax Day collections Tuesday

LIHU‘E — With “Tax Day” pushed back to Tuesday from the traditional April 15 federal tax filing deadline, 28 U.S. Postal Service offices across the state will offer late collection to accommodate last-minute filers.

The new Tuesday filing deadline is because April 15 falls on a Sunday (today), and also because Washington, D.C., will celebrate Emancipation Day on Monday.

All post offices will close at regular times on Monday (except the Honolulu Airport post office that will close at 8 p.m.) But 28 post offices will offer a late-hours drop-off box.

The main post office on Kaua‘i, in Lihu‘e, will have collection boxes labeled with special bright orange signs indicating “Tax Mail Drop — Final Pickup Midnight.” Tax forms with correct postage deposited in this  specially designated boxes and slots by midnight will receive Apr. 17 postmarks.

Collection boxes and post office lobby drops at all other locations on the island will be collected only at their regular posted times on April 17.

The IRS reports that as of March 30, more than 91 million tax returns had been received, and 88 percent of all returns were filed electronically. Last year, 78 percent of all ret

urns were submitted electronically.

The IRS also reports that 20 percent to 25 percent of all taxpayers file in the final two weeks of the tax season.

Due to the declining numbers of citizens who submit hard-copy tax returns by mail, the Postal Service no longer provides curbside service to last-second filers of tax mail at its drive-by collection boxes.

For last-minute filers, the Postal Service suggests mailing early, ensuring proper postage and ensuring clearly written or typed addresses.

Tax forms are not available at post offices, but taxpayers can download forms from the IRS website.