Time’s running out for taxpayers
GREENSBORO - Taxpayers with plans to mail their tax returns at the post office after 5 p.m. Wednesday need to bring along their patience and a credit or debit card, postal officials say.
Last-minute tax filers won’t be met by area postal service workers pulling overtime this year — just automated kiosks and, likely, long lines.
“There will not be any post offices open late (in the Triad),” said Carl Walton, a spokesman for the United States Postal Service. “With the economy affecting all of us, we’ve had to cut back on the hours we’re being utilized.”
That means the only option to get an envelope postmarked April 15 after the post office is closed is to use an Automated Postal Center kiosk, which will be available at only seven area post offices.
The kiosks, which are available 24 hours, 7 days a week in many post office lobbies, use touch-screen technology and allow customers to access most of the same services they would get from a human clerk.
“For the purposes of those looking to mail off tax returns, they can purchase dated postage and put it onto their mail and mail it off,” Walton said. “The date will be honored.”
The machines offer step-by-step instruction for use. They are private and secure, but they accept credit or debit cards only.
In years past, some post officials have kept at least a handful of post offices open late or have provided last-minute filers with curbside assistance that allowed them to stay in their vehicles.
However, those luxuries have been eliminated as the increased popularity of electronic filing has cut mail volume and as the economy has suffered.
“The cost of keeping the business open (April 15) versus the amount of mail coming in — it didn’t make sense business-wise,” Walton said. “We are asking customers to come in before the 15th or before the post office closes.”
The Internal Revenue Service agrees. Officials said they won’t extend their hours this year to handle last-minute tax questions on April 15, but instead will stick to the usual 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. hours of operation.
Historically, the IRS says 35 percent of tax returns are filed in April, with 20 percent coming in between April 9 and April 15.
About 6.4 percent of North Carolinians are expected to request an automatic 6-month filing extension this year, which will give them until Oct. 1 to file. Taxpayers have until April 15 to file for the extension.
“An extension to file is not an extension to pay,” said Mark Hanson of the Greensboro IRS office. “If you owe the IRS, you must pay by April 15 to avoid penalties and interest.
“If you are unable to pay, pay as much as you can and contact us as soon as possible to set up an installment agreement. This can lessen penalties and interest,” he said.
Hanson said the average federal tax refund this year has been $2,700.
Contact Ryan Seals at 373-7077 or ryan.seals@news-record.com
Accompanying Photos
Helpful tax tips from the IRS
1. File electronically. The option is available 24/7 at the IRS Web site: www.irs.gov. If you file online and choose direct deposit, you can get your refund in as few as 10 days.
2. Carefully check all identification numbers. That’s usually Social Security numbers for each person listed: you, your spouse, dependents and anyone listed for a child and dependent care credit or earned income tax credits. Incorrect numbers can delay or reduce a refund.
3. Double-check your figures. If you are filing a paper return, you should double-check that you correctly figured the refund or balance due.
4. Check the tax tables. If you are filing using the Free File Fillable Forms or a paper return, you should double-check that you have used the right figure from the tax table.
5. Sign and date your return. Both spouses must sign a joint return, even if only one had income. Anyone paid to prepare a return must sign it.
6. When mailing your return, use the coded envelope included with your tax package. If you did not receive an envelope, read the section, “Where Do You File?” in the tax instruction booklet.
7. If you are mailing a payment, make the check out to “United States Treasury” and enclose it with — but don’t attach it to — the tax return or the Form 1040-V, Payment Voucher, if used. The check should include the taxpayer’s Social Security number, daytime phone number, tax year and type of form filed.
8. Electronic payment options are convenient, safe and secure methods for paying taxes. You can authorize an electronic withdrawal or use a credit card or a debit card. For more information, visit www.irs.gov.
9. By the April due date, taxpayers should either file a return or request an extension of time to file. Remember, the extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay.
10. Forms and publications and helpful information on a variety of tax subjects are available around the clock at www.irs.gov.
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