Tax Day Tips for Many Happy Returns

Pembroke Pines Branch Sales and Services Associate Ray Chang (above) provides outstanding service to his customers throughout the year and looks forward to accepting their last-minute income tax returns on Monday, April 15.

 

Many South Florida Post Offices regularly are open after 5 p.m. and can help you meet that all important April 15 deadline. Visit usps.com, select “Mail and Ship” on the toolbar, and then from the drop menu, choose “Find a USPS Location.”

Postal employees offer the following 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 blue collection box on April 15, double check the scheduled pick-up time. Your tax envelope must be deposited prior to the last scheduled pick-up time posted to receive the April 15 postmark. 

·  Clearly and correctly address your envelope, including the return address, and use the correct ZIP Code, if not using the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) pre-addressed envelope.

·  Affix the correct postage. Some tax returns include many forms and require additional postage. For First-Class letter-sized envelopes, one ounce is 55 cents and 15 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 $1.00 up to the first ounce and 15 cents for each additional ounce. That would be $1.15 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.

The U.S. Postal Service offers the following 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 $25.50.

· Priority Mail Service gets your tax return delivered in an average of two to three 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 IRS. This Priority Mail Flat-Rate Envelope is $6.95.

· First-Class Mail Service is an efficient, economical option to mail your return with an April 15 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: 
A Certificate of Mailing receipt shows evidence that you mailed your tax return. Certificate of Mailing is $1.45 and is in addition to the postage.
A Certified Mail receipt proves that you mailed your tax return and provides online access to verify the date and time of delivery. Certified Mail is $3.50, in addition to the postage.A Return 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 $2.80 (mail receipt) and $1.60 (email receipt). 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.