Wonders never cease. For the first time since 1919, the price to mail a one-ounce letter dropped from 49 cents to 47 cents. Yes, right before everyone needs to mail their taxes, the price to do so just went down. To help alleviate the revenue declines from the Great Recession, the Postal Office had an agreement with Congress which allowed them to increase the price of stamps, but only until the Postal Service collected $4.6 billion in surcharges. They were expected to reach that amount by April 10, 2016, thus the decrease in prices. While the Post office may not be excited about the lost revenue, folks who still need to mail their taxes will appreciate the savings, even if it’s only two cents.
In a lucky turn of events for procrastinators, along with the price of stamps decreasing, Tax Day is also delayed until April 18, 2016. While Tax Day is typically April 15, this year that date coincides with Emancipation Day. Usually observed on April 16th, Emancipation Day marks the date when President Lincoln signed the Compensated Emancipation Act ending slavery in Washington D.C. This year, the sixteenth of April falls on a Saturday, so the local government in D.C. is shutting down on the 15th to observe the holiday.
Between Tax Day delayed and the decrease in postage rates, the Post Office is sure to get busy over the next week. If you don’t want to deal with the crowds, visit the PostalAnnex nearest you where you will be greeted with friendly and efficient service. The professionals can help you make copies of your documents, mail your taxes, and provide options for tracking and certified mail. To accommodate customers who need to mail their taxes at the last minute, some PostalAnnex locations even stay open late on Tax Day to help get documents mailed in time, so call the location you wish to visit for more information about extended hours.
Sources: Forbes.com; NOLA.com, USPS.com