MEADVILLE —
Taxpayers got an extra three days to file 2010 income tax returns thanks to a holiday in the District of Columbia, but don’t look for extended hours at U.S. post offices in western Pennsylvania.
Taxpayers have until midnight tonight to file 2010 tax returns and pay any tax due because Emancipation Day, a holiday observed in the District of Columbia, fell this year on Friday. April 15 is the normal tax filing deadline.
By law, District of Columbia holidays impact tax deadlines in the same way that federal holidays do; therefore, all taxpayers have three extra days to file this year, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
Taxpayers who file a request with the IRS for an extension have until Oct. 17 to file their 2010 tax returns.
Post offices in the western Pennsylvania district, ZIP codes starting with 150 through 168 (which includes all of Crawford County) and 260, will operate at normal hours today, according to the U.S. Postal Service.
Customers depositing returns in collection boxes are advised to check the last pickup time posted for the collection to make sure the posted pickup time hasn’t passed to ensure returns receive the April 18 postmark.
The counter service window at the U.S. Post Office, 212 Arch St., Meadville, closes at 5 p.m. today, but the Meadville office has an Automated Postal Center (APC) in its lobby that’s in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The APC can provide time-stamped, certified-mail, first-class postage to meet today’s filing deadline, said Jerry Higham, lead sales associate for the U.S. Post Office in Meadville.
“People must remember the machine only takes debit or credit cards — no cash,” Higham said.
Mailed tax returns must be postmarked before midnight tonight to meet the filing deadline, according to the IRS.
APCs are available at 26 western Pennsylvania district post offices including Meadville, three in the Erie area and one in Hermitage.
Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.
APC locations
Northwestern Pennsylvania U.S. Post Offices with a 24-hour-per-day Automated Postal Center:
-Meadville — 212 Arch St.
-Erie — 2108 E. 38th St., 2711 Legion Road and 3607 Poplar St.
-Hermitage — 3386 E. State St.
Mailing advice
The U.S. Postal Service offers the following advice to tax filers who may file today, the deadline for mailing 2010 income taxes:
-Try to mail as early in the day as possible.
-Take note of posted collection times and local post office hours.
-Always include the return address on the mail.
-Be certain to weigh a tax return or extension request on a postal scale and affix the proper amount of postage. (This is especially true if filing extra forms or schedules this year. Tax agencies will not pay postage due, so short-paid tax filings must be returned for additional postage.)
-Apply sufficient postage. (Postage is 44 cents for the first ounce which is usually about four 8-by-11-inch sheets; add 17 cents postage for each additional ounce.)
-Always use a complete mailing and return address.
-Tax returns must be postmarked no later than April 18.
-If mailing from a street collection box, check the last pickup time to make sure the return will be collected later that day.
-Consider using Priority Mail with delivery confirmation to confirm a tax return is delivered. Delivery confirmation isn’t available for first-class envelopes.
-If using a first-class envelope, use certified mail or registered mail for proof of delivery.
-For mailing tips and information on delivery confirmation, log onto usps.com.
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