If you’re one of the millions of Americans who hasn’t filed your tax return yet, don’t despair. The Postal Service has a lot of ways to take the stress out of last-minute tax filing.

Although some taxpayers file online, many Americans prefer to mail their tax returns making April 15 one of the busiest mailing days of the year.

Many Post Offices across Ohio will be staying open late, while others have automated postal centers (APCs) in their lobbies to help last minute mailers. The APC is the Postal Service’s version of an ATM, providing easy access to postal products and services for customers using credit and debit cards 24 hours a day. Your APC receipt acts as proof of mailing.

On Tax Day, Cincinnati Main Post Office, 1623 Dalton Ave., will offer full-service window operations from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. In Dayton, the Main Post Office at 1111 E. Fifth St. will offer full-service window operations from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

To accommodate late filers in Cleveland, several Northern Ohio Post Offices will be open late and in Columbus, customers are being directed to offices with APCs to make sure their tax forms will receive the April 15 postmark.

Additional last-minute tips:

• Apply sufficient postage. Postage is 42-cents for the first ounce which is usually about four 8½ x 11” 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 15.
• If mailing from a street collection box, check the last pick-up time to make sure your return will be collected later that day.
• Consider using Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation if you want to confirm your tax return is delivered. Delivery Confirmation is not 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 www.usps.com.

Editors please note: Hours have changed slightly from years past when we stayed open until midnight.

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An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 149 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes, six days a week. It has 34,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services, not tax dollars, to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of $75 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.