Tax Tips for Last-Minute Filers

If you’re still sharpening your pencil to work on your federal income tax, many South Florida  Post Offices regularly are open after 5 p.m. to help you meet that all important April 17 deadline.

Why April 17? Because this year, April 15 falls on a Sunday and April 16 is Emancipation Day, a government holiday in Washington, D.C. Even though the holiday is not observed nationwide, everyone still gets extra time to do their taxes. In 2018, that’s two more days!

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 17, 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 17 postmark. 
• Affix the correct postage. Some tax returns include many forms and require additional postage. For First-Class letter-sized envelopes, one ounce is 50 cents and 21 cents for each additional ounce. A two-ounce letter-sized envelope is 71 cents. For a First-Class flat-sized    (8 ½ X 11) envelope, the cost is $1.00 up to the first ounce and 21 cents for each additional ounce.  That would be $1.21 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. The Priority Mail Express Flat-Rate Envelope is $24.70.
• 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). This Priority Mail Flat-Rate Envelope is $6.70.
• First-Class Mail Service is an efficient, economical option to mail your return with an April 17 postmark.
• Proof of Mailing Services provides customers with peace of mind. Services prove that you mailed your tax return, verify that it was delivered, or both: 

1. Certificate of Mailing - This receipt shows evidence you mailed your tax return. Certificate of Mailing is $1.40 and is in addition to the postage.
2. Certified Mail - This receipt proves you mailed your tax return and provides online access to verify the date and time of delivery. Certified Mail is $3.45. This is in addition  to the postage.
3. Return Receipt - This receipt verifies both mailing and delivery, returning to you a postcard signed by the person who received your IRS documents. Return Receipt (Hardcopy PS Form 3811) is $2.75. This is in addition to the postage.

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