2015 Tax Deadline: Does Your Post Office Have Extended Hours?

April 15, 2015 is more than just a Wednesday; it’s the last day to file taxes in the United States without penalty.

But what was once a familiar scene of long lines of taxpayers late into the night on deadline at post office locations around the country has now mostly gone by the wayside, thanks to the ability to file electronically.

In an email to Patch, postmaster spokesperson George Flood said no branches in Northern New Jersey will have extended hours on April 15 due to the increase of that ability to file electronically.

But if you’re still running late, here are a few quick tips to help:

• Click here for mailing tips and hours of operation for your local branch.
• Click here for form 4868, used for automatic extensions.
• Click here for electronic filing options.

For proper mailing of your tax filings, which needs to be postmarked by April 15, Flood provided the following tips:

• If depositing returns in a blue collection box on Wednesday, April 15, double-check the pick-up schedule on the label. To ensure getting the April 15th postmark, deposit returns before the last scheduled pick-up time.
• Affix the appropriate postage, especially since the item may weigh more than an ounce. The IRS will not pay postage due and your filings will be returned if there is insufficient postage. The cost of a one-ounce letter is $0.49 and $0.21 for each additional ounce.
• Be sure and include a return address on the envelope. Short-paid items without a return address will be sent to the postal mail recovery office for determination of the sender, delaying its return.
• The USPS highly recommends getting the security of proof of mailing and proof of delivery of your tax returns - use certified mail service with a return receipt, plus the applicable postage.
• Tax forms are no longer available at Post Offices. Check online at http://www.irs.gov/ for federal forms, http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/taxation/prntgit.shtml for New Jersey State forms.

Flood said the closest location to northern New Jersey that will have extended hours is in New York City at James A. Farley Main Post Office at 421 8th Avenue in Manhattan, across the street from Penn Station/Madison Square Garden.