Last-minute tax returns keep post office busy
Published 5:34 pm Monday, April 15, 2013
Richard Davis files his tax return the same way every year.
“I wait until the last day to file everything,” Davis said. “I am usually so busy so I will put off filing my taxes until the day I know I can’t put them off any longer.”
Davis, a Maplesville councilman, brought in his taxes to the Clanton Post Office Monday afternoon to have them postmarked by April 15, which he has done the same way for many years.
“It never bothers me to wait until the last minute,” Davis said. “I just get them done by the deadline and I am OK.”
Davis was not the only one waiting until the last minute to file taxes according to Clanton Post Office clerk Rena Crumpton.
“We have been very busy today,” Crumpton said. “Every year we know the last day for everyone to file their income taxes is going to be a busy one for us.”
Crumpton said as of 1 p.m., more than 300 Clanton residents had brought in their tax forms to be mailed to the federal government on Monday.
Crumpton, along with clerks Donna Wyatt and Ginger Gray, said the day had been filled with last-minute tax filers who had different reasons for waiting until the last minute.
“I think a lot of people know they will owe money and they want to wait until the last possible moment to have to pay that money,” Crumpton said.
Gray said one customer had commented to her that if taxes were filed on the last day people were less likely to get audited.
“There are apparently a bunch of different myths out there surrounding taxes,” Gray said. “Everyone has their own reason but it is funny to hear some of them.”
Everyone sending income tax returns to be postmarked by April 15 had until 4 p.m. to send them due to no midnight collection box pick-ups or parking lot collections at any post office in Alabama.
Nick Nivens said he normally completes his taxes before the deadline but waits to mail them until the deadline.
“As long as I know everything will be postmarked by April 15, I am fine,” Nivens said.
Crumpton said for most people, waiting until the last day to file is common and every year there is a constant stream of people coming into the post office doors up until the deadline.
“We have had phone calls from people making sure we are open today so they can be sure and file everything on time,” Crumpton said. “It is a pretty steady stream of people and close to 4 p.m. there will be a line out the door.”