As employees of the United States Postal Service®, we have a legal, moral, and fiduciary obligation to obey the tax laws of our country. As both citizens and public servants who are obligated to uphold the public trust, we are ethically mandated to complete and file all required tax forms for our federal, state, and where applicable, local taxes. We are required by appropriate taxation laws to pay all of our required taxes in a timely and accurate manner.
All Postal Service™ employees are reminded that they are bound by the materials contained within the Code of Ethics, Principles of Ethical Conduct for Government Officers and Employees. This includes Principle 12, which states: “Employees shall satisfy in good faith their obligations as citizens, including all just financial obligations, especially those — such as federal, state, and local taxes — that are imposed by law.” It is vital all Postal Service employees adhere to the highest possible ethical standards concerning the payment of their taxes and other debts.
As a Postal Service employee, you are personally responsible for ensuring correct federal, state, and local taxes are deducted from your pay. If you are subject to federal, state, and/or local taxes and the correct deductions are not being withheld from your pay, you should take immediate action to ensure appropriate tax withholdings.
To Update Federal and/or State Tax Withholdings:
n Complete the federal Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate and/or the state equivalent of the federal Form W-4. For example, to update Minnesota tax withholdings, complete Form W-4MN, Minnesota Withholding Allowance/Exemption Certificate. Complete the federal Form W-4 if your state does not have its own state equivalent of the federal Form W-4.
n Go to the LiteBlue home page (www.liteblue.usps.gov) to access the PostalEASE App.
n Update your “Federal W-4” Payroll Module and/or your “State Tax” Payroll Module.
n If you do not have access to a computer and/or the Internet, mail your completed form(s) to the HR Shared Service Center, PO Box 970400, Greensboro, NC 27497-0400.
Note: It is to your advantage to complete the paper form prior to your PostalEASE update as the paper form comes with instructions, which can be particularly helpful if your state has complex withholding selections.
To Update Local Tax Withholdings:
n Complete PS Form 4, Employee’s City or County Withholding Certificate.
n Forward your completed PS Form 4 to the HR Shared Service Center, PO Box 970400, Greensboro, NC 27497-0400.
Direct all questions concerning these taxes to the HRSSC at 877-477-3273, option 5 (TDD/TTY 866-260-7507).
The Postal Service does not provide tax advice. Direct any questions about your tax liability/responsibility to the IRS or a qualified tax attorney or accountant.
Adherence to these requirements will help all USPS® employees to avoid costly penalties and the potential of tax enforcement action by the IRS. The IRS provides free tax information and services to inform and assist taxpayers concerning tax laws and individual responsibilities. You can research federal tax information at www.irs.gov, or you can call toll-free at 800-829-1040 (TDD 800-829-4059) to contact an IRS representative for further federal tax information.
— Payroll,
Controller, 11-10-16
