New Orleans —Last minute tax filers can deposit their tax returns at the main post office at 701 Loyola Ave, from 4 p.m. to midnight, April 15.  Postal employees will accept mail from customers, as they drive past a drop-off point on Loyola Ave.  All mail deposited by midnight will receive the April 15 postmark.  The Main Post office will also offer full retail window service until 7:00p.m., for customers to buy stamps, money orders, certified or registered mailing for their tax returns.  All surrounding stations for the city of New Orleans will close at normal business hours.

For customers using the curbside drop-off at the New Orleans Main Post Office:

• Please try to drop off as early as possible; as the night goes on, traffic increases.
• Pull up as far as possible to the next available collector and try to pull as close to the curb as possible.
• If your passenger side window is inoperable, you will need to park your vehicle and hand it to a collector; our collectors will not, for safety reasons, be able to come around to a driver’s side window.
• If you have a dog in the car, please make sure it is under control, to ensure collectors will not be in danger of a bite.
• Postage is not available for purchase at curbside.  Stamps and other types of postage can be purchased at the Retail window until 7:00 p.m. at the New Orleans Main Post Office retail window. The Automated Postal Center located in the lobby is available 24 hours daily, for those needing postage after the retail window closes at 7:00 p.m.

All IRS returns collected at the New Orleans Main Post location before midnight will receive the April 15 postmark. This does not apply to mail dropped in any other collection boxes after normal collection times posted on the box. Postal customers should look for the last collection time posted on the collection box to ensure their return will have an April 15 postmark. 

Customers with questions may also call the Postal Service’s free, 24 hour toll-free number,
1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).
‘Skip the Trip’ to the Post Office by going to USPS.com to buy postage, look up a ZIP Code, track a package, and more.   The Web site is a Quick, Easy, and Convenient way to do business with us online with just a few clicks at our award-winning Web site, www.usps.com. 

For last minute filers, here are some Postal Service mailing tips:

• Use First-Class postage.
• Use pre-addressed labels where possible. Write clearly. Take special care to ensure that handwritten envelopes are legible, and include a return address.
• Affix sufficient postage. One ounce is 44-cents; each additional ounce up to 13 ounces costs an additional 17 cents.
• Double-check postage. Weigh any return that feels heavier than one ounce. Tax agencies do not accept postage due mail; tax returns bearing insufficient postage will be returned - meaning taxpayers may be penalized for filing late tax returns.
• Avoid the mad rush at the post office. Mail returns in local collection boxes, but remember to make certain that the posted pick-up time has not passed to ensure returns will have an April 15th postmark.
• For customers who send original receipts to tax agencies, registered mail is a good choice.
• Make certain bulky envelopes are securely sealed.

Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation-Priority Mail offers 2-3 day service at a great price.  In addition, you can verify delivery online when you use delivery Confirmation.

Express Mail- If the tax deadline is coming up fast, Express Mail offers overnight service to many destinations and noon delivery the next day to select locations.

Certified- Mail For peace of mind, certified mail provides proof of mailing and delivery of your tax return.  Certified Mail is available only for First –Class mail or Priority Mail.

Internal Revenue Extension Form #4868 can be obtained on the IRS website www.irs.gov/form4868/extension or you can go to 1555 Poydras street.

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A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 150 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars. With 36,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, the Postal Service relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $68 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 26th in the 2008 Fortune 500.