PITTSBURGH, PA — With the deadline for filing income tax returns rapidly approaching, the Postal Service is notifying last minute filers to take notice of their local Post Office’s operating hours. Post Offices in the Pittsburgh area will operate at normal hours on Wednesday, April 15. Customers depositing returns in collection boxes are advised to check the last pickup time posted on the collection receptacle.

Postal customers can easily avoid a trip to the main Post Office by mailing their returns or extension requests early in the day at any of the Post Offices, stations, branches or collection boxes in their community. However, tax filers using a collection box should make certain that the posted pick-up time has not passed to ensure returns will receive the April 15 postmark.

Automated Postal Centers (APCs) are available at 16 Pittsburgh area Post Offices. Using a debit or credit card, customers can use the APC to weigh and mail their tax returns or regular mail and packages 24 hour a day, 7 days a week, at most locations. (See list of offices with APCs.)

There are 16 Pittsburgh area Post Offices that have regular hours as late as 6 p.m. and 7p.m.(See list of offices.)

The Postal Service offers the following advice to tax filers:

• Try to mail as early in the day as possible.
• Take note of posted collection times and local Post Office hours.
• Always include your return address on your mailpiece.
• Be certain to weigh your returns or extension requests on a postal scale and affix the proper amount of postage. (This is especially true if you are 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 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.

The following Pittsburgh area Post Offices feature the Automated Postal Center (APC) in their lobbies. (*All but Washington PA are located in 24 hour lobbies)

Blawnox Branch • 1310 Old Freeport Road; Brentwood Branch • 350 Towne Square Way; Castle Shannon Branch • 370 Castle Shannon Boulevard; Coraopolis Post Office • 1140 Thorn Run Road; GMF (Main) Finance Station • 1001 California Avenue; Greensburg Post Office • 238 S Pennsylvania Avenue; McKnight Branch • 4981 McKnight Road; McMurray Retail Branch • 392 Washington Road; Monroeville Branch • 2630 Monroeville Boulevard; Murrysville Post Office • 1 Priority Lane; Penn Hills Branch • 500 Regis Drive; Pleasant Hills Branch • 500 Regis Drive; Squirrel Hill Station • 1800 Murray Avenue; Washington Post Office* • 153 Jefferson Avenue; Wexford Post Office • 10675 Perry Highway; Upper St. Clair Branch • 2211 Lesnett Road.

The following Pittsburgh area offices have retail services as late as 6 and 7 p.m. Customers are advised to check their local Post Office operating hours on April 15.

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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.