With less than 48 hours remaining to file 2008 income tax forms without incurring a penalty or seeking an extension, local tax preparers and post offices are bracing for brisk business. However, the age of computers has taken the edge off the last-minute rush at post offices, according to an Internal Revenue Service spokesman.

Eric Erickson, IRS media relations spokesman for West Virginia and Ohio, said there is still time to meet the April 15 deadline for filing income tax returns, especially if using the electronic filing process. If you can’t meet the midnight Wednesday deadline, you must file a form seeking an extension. However, if you owe money to the IRS, you must pay on time.

“If they can’t get them filed by Wednesday, they can file an extension. This gives you more time to file, but not more time to pay,” Erickson said.

Erickson said he used the electronic filing process for filing his tax return this year. “It didn’t take me even an hour so using the electronic filing is a good way to go,” he noted. “However, if you plan to mail your return, you should check with your local post office to get it postmarked before midnight April 15.”

Some post offices aren’t extending their hours on Wednesday because so many people are using electronic filing, he added.

According to the U.S. Postal Service, local post offices, including Wheeling, will operate according to regular hours on Wednesday. In Wheeling, that means the post offices will operate from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. When placing returns in drop boxes, you must check the last pickup time on the box to determine if your mail will be postmarked before midnight.

(Source: Wheeling News-Register)