Postal Service Offers Tax Day Tips

Tax Day falls on April 18, 2017. That's the deadline for filing taxes on income earned in 2016. Usually, April 15 is the day taxes are due, but in 2017, that falls on a Saturday. And on Monday, the District of Columbia celebrates Emancipation Day, which is normally April 16, but that's a Sunday. Emancipation Day affects taxes the same way federal holidays do. Therefore, the tax deadline is pushed out to the following Tuesday, April 18, giving taxpayers three extra days to file their returns. 

On Tuesday, April 18, from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., the Miami GMF Customer Service parking lot at 2200 NW 72 Ave, Miami, will be transformed into a drive-through for the convenience of last-minute tax filers. South Florida Post Offices are not extending retail hours, but you are encouraged to visit usps.com for Post Offices that regularly are open after 5 p.m. 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.

Tax Day Tips:

• Mail early in the day at any Post Office. Be sure to verify Post Office hours of operation.
• If depositing a tax return in a collection box on April 18, double check the pick-up time on the collection box.  Your tax envelope must be deposited prior to the last scheduled pick-up time posted to receive the April 18 postmark. 
• Affix the correct postage. Some tax returns include many forms and require additional postage. For First-Class letter-sized envelopes, one ounce is 49 cents and 21 cents for each additional ounce. A two-ounce letter-sized envelope is 70 cents. For a First-Class flat-sized (8 ½ X 11) envelope, the cost is 98 cents up to the first ounce and $1.19 for up to two ounces.
• Customers may purchase postage at the retail counter or at a Self-Service Ship and Mail Center (credit/debit card only) in the Post Office lobby. Stamps also are available at alternate retail access locations posted at usps.com.

Products and Services:

• Priority Mail Express Service gets your tax return to many locations the next day guaranteed or your money back. Priority Mail Express includes online tracking and signature at delivery.
• Priority Mail Service gets your tax return delivered in an average of 2-3 days. Priority Mail with USPS Tracking provides a receipt of mailing for recordkeeping purposes and allows the customer to confirm electronically at usps.com, or at 1-800-222-1811, that the mailing was delivered to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
• First-Class Mail Service is an efficient, economical option to mail your return with an April 18 postmark.
• Proof of Mailing Services provide customers with peace of mind. Services prove that you mailed your tax return, verify that it was delivered, or both: 

Certificate of Mailing - This receipt shows evidence you mailed your tax return.

Certified Mail - This receipt proves you mailed your tax return and provides online access to verify the date and time of delivery.

Return Receipt - This receipt verifies both mailing and delivery, returning to you a postcard signed by the person who received your IRS documents. 

• Click-N-Ship Online Service allows you to print Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail labels, with or without postage, from any computer.