USPS Offers Late Collection Time for Tax Returns at Some Locations

Big Island Now stock photo.

A total of 27 U.S. Post Offices across the state—three on the Big Island—will offer late collection of mail from specially marked collection boxes on federal Tax Day, Tuesday, April 18, to accommodate last-minute filers of federal tax returns.

Taxpayers across the nation have a few extra days to file their returns this year. They have until Tuesday, April 18, to file their federal tax returns and pay any taxes due because April 15 falls on a Saturday and Monday is Emancipation Day, a holiday in the District of Columbia.

Due to the declining numbers of citizens who submit hard-copy tax returns by mail, the Postal Service no longer extends its retail hours of operation or provides curbside service to last-minute filers of tax mail at its drive-by collection boxes. (According to the IRS, 92% of tax returns filed nationwide so far this year have been submitted online.)

All Post Offices in Hawai‘i will close at their regular times on Tax Day. (The Airport Post Office in Honolulu will be the last to close—at 8 p.m.—on that night and will be the best bet for last-minute O‘ahu customers who need to purchase stamps or special services.)

The 27 Post Offices listed below will have blue collection boxes or in-wall mail slots labeled with special bright orange signs indicating Tax Mail Drop – Final Pick-Up Midnight. Tax forms with correct postage deposited in those specially designated boxes and slots by midnight will receive April 18 postmarks.

Collection boxes and Post Office lobby drops at all other Post Offices will be collected only at their regular posted times on April 18.

The locations of the 27 Post Offices offering late collections are:

Hawai‘i Island
Hilo (Airport) Post Office
Kailua-Kona Post Office
Kamuela Post Office

O‘ahu
Airport (Main) Post Office
Downtown Post Office
Ewa Beach Post Office
Hawaii Kai Post Office
Kailua Post Office
Kaneohe Post Office
Kapalama Post Office
Makiki Post Office
Mililani Post Office
Pearl City Post Office
Waialae Kahala Post Office
Waialua Post Office
Waianae Post Office
Waikiki Post Office
Waipahu Post Office

Maui
Kahului Post Office
Kīhei Post Office
Lahaina (Main) Post Office
Makawao Post Office
Pukalani Post office
Wailuku Post Office

Kaua‘i
Līhue Main Post Office

Moloka‘i
Kaunakakai Post Office

Lāna‘i
Lāna‘i City Post Office

The Postal Service provides the following friendly reminders regarding the mailing of tax returns:

Not all boxes will be collected late. If you are mailing your return in a blue collection box or a drop slot at the post office, be sure to check the schedule for the last collection time. Except in specially marked boxes at designated locations (see above list), returns deposited after the last collection time will not receive April 18 postmarks.

Beat the rush, mail early. Mail your tax returns early in the day. Post offices typically become congested during lunchtime and in the late afternoon and evening on the Tax Day deadline.

Ensure proper postage. Be sure to check that adequate postage is applied to your tax return. First-Class postage for a one-ounce letter is 49 cents. Large envelopes and items weighing more than one ounce or greater than ¼-inch thick require additional postage; check with a postal clerk to determine correct postage, or check the Postal Service website for a postage rate calculator. 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.

Proof of mailing/delivery. Mailers seeking proof of mailing and proof of delivery should request “Certified Mail with Return Receipt” when mailing tax returns.

Ensure proper addressing. Use pre-addressed labels where possible. Write clearly. Take special care to ensure that handwritten envelopes are legible. Include a return address. Make sure that bulky envelopes are securely sealed.

Heavy packages require personal drop off. Mail with postage paid by postage stamps (as opposed to postage meter strips) that weighs more than 12 ounces must be presented in person to a clerk at a Post Office. Returns meeting this description that are deposited in collection boxes will be returned to their senders.

Tax forms not available at Post Offices. Post Offices do not carry tax forms. Check out the IRS website for downloadable forms.