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Samantha Hayes, Richard Piatt, Randall Jeppesen ReportingOne of the sure things in life, tax day, is coming a couple days later this year, because April 15 was Saturday, but that's not making it any better for those who are filing at the last minute. However, there are fewer people doing that in person this year.
Stamping paper forms is the official way to prove you've filed your taxes on time. But it's also the old-fashioned way. More taxpayers in Utah are filing electronically these days. Last year the tax commission says it was half of all taxpayers; this year it may be as high as 65 percent.
Charlie Roberts, Utah Tax Commission: "To file electronically, it's more convenient, it's also safer."
That still doesn't mean your favorite tax form isn't around. They're all there at the tax commission. It seems people who owe Uncle Sam often prefer to do it the old-fashioned way.
Dave Mettome, Taxpayer: "Is there any advantage to filing electronically? No, I prefer doing it the old fashion way with my coupon and my cold hard cash, and take it right there and pay it off."
In an exclusive survery for KSL-TV and the Deseret News, 45 percent of Utah taxpayers say they did their taxes on line.
42 percent of Utahns prepare their own taxes. More than half--54 percent-- hire a tax service.
How about that refund?
63 percent of Utahns expect to get one. 30 percent do not.
Of those expecting a tax refund, 21-percent says it's coming from Federal Government only. Four percent will get state refunds only. 73 percent will get both.
Post Office employees geared up for a marathon day to handle all the extra envelopes from tax procrastinators. A few years ago there would have been a line to file tax forms at the post office, but here we are the last day at lunch and there's nobody.
Salt Lake District Post Office Spokesperson Ron Hubrick says six post offices from Ogden to Provo will have clerks working until midnight to assist you. Another 21 offices will keep collecting tax forms from drop off bins until midnight and mail workers will be busy. They will be running all night and into the morning making sure that they get the correct cancellation on that piece of mail.
Hubrick says make sure you have the right amount of postage on your envelope; you don't want that envelope returned.
The following post offices will provide retail services and collections until midnight tonight:
Ogden Main Post Office, 3680 Pacific Ave.; Provo East Bay Post Office, 936 S. 250 East; Sandy Main Post Office, 8850 S. 700 East; Salt Lake Downtown Station, 230 W. 200 South; Salt Lake Main Post Office, 1760 W. 2100 South; Salt Lake Airport Post Office, 320 N. 3700 West, south of the main terminal.
Collections only until midnight:
American Fork Post Office, 55 N. Merchant St.; Bountiful Main Post Office, 20 S. Main; Castle Dale Post Office, 55 Center; Grantsville Post Office, 36 W. Main; Layton Post Office, 1123 N. Fairfield; Logan Post Office, 75 W. 200 North; Ogden Ben Lomond Post Office, 221 N. Washington Blvd.; Ogden Town Station Post Office, 2730 Washington Blvd.; Mount Ogden Station, 1145 E. 4600 South; Orem Main Post Office, 22 W. Center; Park City Main Post Office, 2100 Park Ave.; Pleasant Grove Post Office, 180 S. 100 West; Richfield Main Post Office, 93 N. Main; Salt Lake City Sugar House Station, 1953 S. 1300 East; Salt Lake City Murray Branch, 4989 S. State; Salt Lake City West Valley City Branch, 3490 S. 4400 West; Vernal Main Post Office, 67 N. 800 West; St. George Red Rocks Main Office, 1150 E. Riverside Drive; Tooele Post Office, 65 N. Main; Cedar City Post Office, 333 N. Main; and West Jordan Main Post Office, 7901 S. 3200 West.
Automated postal centers. Customers using credit or debit cards and requesting a mail label will receive an April 17 postmark if the label is printed before midnight:
Most Salt Lake metro area post offices, American Fork, Layton, Ogden Main, Ogden Ben Lomond, Ogden Mountain Shadows, Roy, and all post offices in Orem, Provo, Logan and St. George.
For information on postal hours, go to www.usps.com or call 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).
(Deseret Morning News contributed to this report)
