Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
John Daley reportingProcrastinators of the world, unite! Some folks had their tax returns done early. Some were dropping them off at the post office today. And some will wait for the midnight deadline.
The only thing more certain than April bringing showers is that taxpayers will be dropping off returns until the midnight hour.
"SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? TAX DAY, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IT?" "HAS TO BE DONE." "NECESSARY EVIL?" "YEAH, THAT'S ABOUT IT."
"DID IT TAKE A LONG TIME TO PREPARE YOU TAXES THIS YEAR?" "WELL, MY ACCOUNTANT DID IT SO IT WAS PRETTY EASY."
For those dreading the pain of the annual postal visit, post offices are looking to make it a kinder, gentler experience from free five minute massages to Payday candy bars being handed out by Uncle Sam.
And if you plan on dropping your taxes off after 6 pm, you must drop them off at a post office that's open until midnight. The good news is that many have extended hours today.
Thelxi Hauenstein/ United States Postal Service: "ANYONE CAN ACESS OUR WEBSITE AT USPS.COM OR CALL OUR TOLL FREE NUMBER AT 1-800-ASK-UPS. HERE IN THE SALT LAKE AREA THE MAIN OFFICE, DOWNTOWN, SUGARHOUSE, MURRAY, HOLLADAY, WEST VALLEY, AND AIRPORT POST OFFICES WILL ALL BE OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT."
But lest people file without thinking about the larger issues involved, the state's tax watchdog wants residents to know that they now have the 9th highest taxes in the nation, up from 10th highest last year, and way up from 17th highest in 1993.
They say one contributing factor is the state's refusal to index income tax brackets for inflation.
That, they say, collectively costs state taxpayers millions a year.
Howard Stephenson/Utah Taxpayers Association: "WE DID MAKE AN ADJUSTMENT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. BUT IT WAS ONLY ONE TIME, AND WHILE IT WAS MUCH NEEDED, THE FACT THAT IT WAS ONE TIME MEANS THAT WE CONTINUALLY FIND OURSELVES PAYING HIGHER AND HIGHER TAXES EACH YEAR."
The postal service also has this bit of advice: instead of waiting in line at post offices to buy stamps, to save time and buy them at grocery stores instead.
