File Your Taxes Yet? You Have Until Tuesday

Need more time to file your 2011 tax returns? You have until Tuesday, April 17, since April 15 fell on Sunday (and since D.C. is observing Emancipation Day on Monday).

A few post offices in the Northern Virginia area will extend business hours for the federal tax filing deadline Tuesday. If you're still not prepared to file your taxes, you can file an extension that will buy you time until Oct. 15.

You can also e-file your taxes; find information from the IRS.

Northern Virginia Post Office locations with extended hours, beyond 5 p.m., include:

• Merrifield Post Office (8409 Lee Highway): 8 p.m.
• Alexandria Post Office (1100 Wythe St.): 6 p.m.
• Fairfax Chantilly Post Office (4410 Brookfield Corporate Drive): 6 p.m.
• Herndon Post Office (590 Groove St.): 6 p.m.
• Sterling Potomac Falls Post Office (46164 Westlake Drive) 6 p.m.
• Prince William Branch Post Office (3360 Post Office Road) 6 p.m.
• Winchester Post Office (340 N. Pleasant Valley Road) 6 p.m.

Retail

In addition to the 151 post office locations throughout Northern Virginia, customers can purchase postage stamps at many grocery stores and pharmacies.

Self-Serve Ship and Mail Centers

Self-serve ship and mail centers offer customers 24-hour access to U.S. Postal products and services. These self-serve units can be used for most mailing and shipping transactions. To locate a self-serve unit or other expanded access location, visit www.usps.com and select the “Locate a Post Office” option.

Mailers using a self-serve ship and mail center should be aware that these units do not provide proof-of-mailing as the date of sale on the receipt does not necessarily represent the mailing date, the USPS cautions. 

usps.com

The U.S. Postal Service Web site, offers customers 24/7 access to print on-line postage on April 17; the mail piece should be placed in a collection box or drop box.

Mailers are strongly advised to check the last pickup time posted on blue collection boxes before depositing their returns, as there will be no special collection of mail from these boxes. An April 18 postmark will be provided if the mail is deposited after the last pickup time posted.