MA Tax Deadline Is April 17: Which Post Offices Are Open Late

BOSTON — Tax day is here. And although it's usually April 15, you have until April 17 to file your 2018 federal tax returns without incurring a penalty from the Internal Revenue Service. Why? Patriot's Day on Monday has pushed out the date and Tuesday is Emancipation Day in Washington, DC, where the IRS is based. That means taxpayers here have a little extra time to file. That’s Wednesday.

Fun fact: Maine and Massachusetts are the only two states that have until April 17. Everyone else has to file on April 15.

Summer Street just before 11 p.m. on April 17 last year looked more like rush hour as hundreds of people raced to get their paperwork into the Post Office before the midnight deadline.

Even though the IRS estimates that some 90 percent of income taxes are filed electronically in the US, there's still a mad rush to the post office at the 11th hour each year as those who file the actual paper work try to get it postmarked in time.

And that's part of why the IRS encourages taxpayers to e-file their returns.

Still, for those who prefer to file their tax returns the old-fashioned way and mail it to the IRS, the return have to be postmarked by the filing date deadline of April 17 here unless you file for an extension. The extension deadline is October 15.

Statistics from the IRS show that through the end of March, the IRS has received 1.4 percent less returns than the previous year. The New York Times reported that the IRS expects to receive more than 14.6 million extension requests in 2019.

Taxpayers can fill out IRS form 4868 to get an automatic extension of time to file their returns. However, the IRS cautions that an extension to file does not mean an extension of time to pay any taxes owed.

According to the United States Postal Service, taxpayers should check the IRS website for where to mail a tax return. The destination and return address should be written clearly on the package. The USPS also says to make sure you have the right amount of postage on the package or it will be returned. And that doesn't count as getting your taxes in on time.

And another fun fact from Wallet Hub: Some 70 percent of people who file will get a Federal Tax refund. Americans spend about 8.1 billion hours prepping their taxes each year. And 1.1 million people get audited each year.

Some post offices have extended hours on tax day and offer late postmarking, the USPS says.

Massachusetts residents can find a list of post office locations nearby by searching on the USPS website or good ole Google, and calling a local post office to find out the hours for tax day.

Here a just a few of the few post offices with hours that keep after 5:30 p.m. on weekdays normally:

In Boston:

• 25 Dorchester Ave, midnight, (Main Boston Post Office)
• 207 Mass Ave 6 p.m.,
• 7 Ave De Lafayette, 6 p.m.
• 31 Milk St, 6 p.m.
• 21 Hanover St., 6 p.m.,

Cambridge:

• 770 Mass Ave, 7 p.m. (Central Square)
• 125 Mt. Auburn St 6 p.m.

Brookline:

• 1295 Beacon St, 7 p.m. (Coolidge Corner)
• 207 Washington Street 6 p.m.

Newton:

• 897 Washington St. 6 p.m. (Newtonville)

Wellesley:

• 1 Grove Street, til 6p.m.

Woburn:

• 462 Washington St, 6:30 p.m.

Everett:

• 11 Norwood St, 6 p.m.

Quincy:

• 47 Washington St, 6 p.m.

Post offices in Belmont, Braintree, Watertown, Lexington, Malden, Medford, Milton, Somerville, Needham, Wrentham, Winchester, Wilmington don't appear to be open past 5:30 p.m., according to their Google listings.

• You can find the USPS’ full guidance on mailing your tax returns here.

-Additional reporting by Chris Mosby/Patch staff