USPS Reminds Taxpayers To Mail Tax Forms Before Midnight

With the deadline for filing 2013 taxes fast approaching, Oklahoma City postal employees are reminding taxpayers to mail their tax forms as early as possible in the day on Tuesday.

The only office in the Oklahoma City metro area that will be collecting mail until midnight is the Airport Finance Unit, located at 6500 Air Cargo Road. Postal employees will be on hand collecting mail. The Airport Finance Unit will also have full service window hours from 7 a.m. to midnight.

You can also go to your local post office prior to closing time if you need window services. If you use a collection box, be sure to double check scheduled pick up times on the local collection boxes.

The U.S Postal Service says it will provide customers with both timely tax return drop offs and special services, including Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, Certificate of Mailing, Certified Mail, and Return Receipt.

The IRS accepts the First-Class postmark as proof of filing by April 15.

Postal employees provide these tips for income tax filers mailing their returns:

1. If filing on April 15, mail early in the day at any Post Office. Be sure to verify Post Office hours of operation.

2. If depositing returns in a collection box on April 15, double check the pick-up schedule on the collection box. To ensure getting the April 15 postmark, deposit returns before the last scheduled pick-up time.

3. Affix the correct postage. Some returns include many forms and require additional postage. One ounce is 49 cents. The second ounce is an additional 21 cents. IRS will not pay postage due and will return items to sender.

4. In addition to the Post Office retail counter, postage may be purchased at a Self- Service Kiosk (SSK) in many lobbies. For locations, visit usps.com. Alternate access locations to buy stamps i.e. grocery stores, also are listed at usps.com.

5. Remember that due to heightened security, mail that bears only postage stamps and weighs more than 13 ounces must be taken by the customer to a Post Office retail counter.

6. Be sure to include a return address on your envelope. Verify the IRS address where your return should be mailed.

The Oklahoma Tax Commission says about 1.4 million Oklahomans have filed returns, which is less than normal. And according to the IRS, 160,000 Oklahomans will file for an extension this year.