The tax filing deadline set by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the year 2025 is Tuesday, April 15. Individuals who plan to rush to the post office at the last moment may find themselves disappointed, as most locations of the United States Postal Service (USPS) will not extend their hours this year.
Previously, many Americans hurriedly relying on post offices that operated late into the evening to meet the tax deadline have found this practice is no longer common as the IRS continues to promote digital filing methods.
In a statement sent via email to Newsweek, a USPS representative mentioned: “The Postal Service does not plan to extend hours at Post Offices nationwide. Customers can verify Post Office hours.”
Additionally, the representative recommended: “To ensure your tax return is postmarked on or before the due date, take your envelope to your local Post Office, visit the retail counter, and ask the retail associate to postmark it.”
USPS Operating Hours on Tax Day 2025
Most post office locations will be operating during their standard hours on April 15.
The IRS deems a tax return filed on time if it is correctly addressed, has sufficient postage, and is postmarked by April 15. To guarantee that a tax return is postmarked by the deadline, USPS recommends that filers take their returns to a local post office, go to the retail counter, and request the retail associate to postmark it.
For added peace of mind, USPS provides certified mail and certificates of mailing to serve as proof that USPS accepted your tax return on a specific date.
The agency suggests that customers check with their local branch or call 800-ASK-USPS for confirmation of availability and collection times. Even if a post office stays open later, any mail deposited after the final scheduled pickup may not receive the essential April 15 postmark.
While the exact timing of USPS’s shift away from extended hours during tax season is uncertain, this change is part of a larger trend where over 90 percent of taxpayers now file electronically, resulting in less demand for late physical drop-offs.
AP Photo/John Minchillo
Tax Filing Deadline: Important Information
For the majority of taxpayers, the deadline for filing federal returns is midnight in their local time zone on April 15. This means that if you are filing electronically, you must submit your return by 11:59 p.m. However, if you are mailing your return, the envelope must be correctly addressed, stamped, and postmarked by April 15 to be deemed timely.
Extending Your Tax Filing Deadline
Should you be unable to meet the April 15 deadline, the IRS permits filers to seek an extension. Keep in mind that while this extends the time for paperwork, any taxes owed must still be paid by the April deadline to avoid incurring penalties and interest.
Extensions can be requested electronically through IRS Free File or by submitting Form 4868 via mail. This form must be postmarked or submitted electronically by April 15.
When Can I Expect My Tax Refund?
According to the IRS, filing electronically and opting for direct deposit is the quickest way to receive a refund. Generally, the IRS issues most refunds within 21 days for error-free returns filed electronically.
Conversely, paper returns usually take more than three weeks to process. Mailing a return may delay processing and any potential refund by several weeks. Although USPS provides tracking or proof-of-mailing services to verify submission, these will not speed up the IRS processing time.
In this increasingly digital tax landscape, the role of the post office has diminished, but for those who still rely on it, verifying local hours and ensuring timely postmarks is crucial.
Update 4/15/25 9:24 a.m. ET: This article has been updated with a statement from USPS.
