As employees of the U.S. 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.
We remind all Postal Service™ employees 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.” All Postal Service employees must 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 local taxes, and the correct deductions are not being withheld from your pay, you must take immediate action to ensure appropriate tax withholdings.
n Complete the federal Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate, 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. Make sure you write “Name of State” and “State Copy” on the top of the form. Go to the LiteBlue home page (liteblue.usps.gov) to access the PostalEASE App.
n Update your “Federal W-4” Payroll Module and your “State Tax” Payroll Module.
n If you do not have access to a computer or the Internet, mail your completed form(s) to:
HR Shared Services Center (HRSSC)
PO Box 970400
Greensboro, NC 27497-0400
Note: It is to your advantage to complete the paper form before your PostalEASE update as the paper form comes with instructions, which can be particularly helpful if your state has complex withholding selections.
n Complete PS Form 4, Employee’s City or County Withholding Certificate.
n Mail your completed PS Form 4 to:
HR Shared Services 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 or responsibility to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or a qualified tax attorney or accountant.
Adherence to these requirements will help USPS® employees avoid costly penalties and potential 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 irs.gov or you can contact an IRS representative toll-free at 800-829-1040 (TDD 800-829-4059) for assistance.
— Payroll,
Controller, 11-9-17
