Gone are the days when the local post office was open late for tax day.
This year, only three post offices in the San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino counties U.S. Postal District will have extended hours. None will be open late in southwest Riverside County, according to Eva Jackson, spokesperson for the tri-county district that also includes parts of Imperial County.
That is because less people are mailing in their returns, Jackson said.
"According to the IRS, 77 percent of 143 million individual 2010 tax returns were filed electronically," Jackson told Patch. "So there really isn't as big of a need as there used to be."
Tax returns mailed by Tuesday evening from two offices in San Bernardino County will be postmarked with the April 17 date, according to Jackson.
"This is to accommodate last-minute filers who want the safety and security of sending personal information on tax returns through the U.S. Mail," Jackson said.
San Bernardino Main Post Office located at 390 W. 5th Street in San Bernardino will extend its retail service hours until 8 p.m. The San Bernardino Processing and Distribution Center located at 1900 W. Redlands Blvd. in Redlands will extend its retail service hours until 10 p.m.
All other post office retail lobbies in the district will adhere to normal business hours and tax returns will be postmarked accordingly. Individual post office hours are available by visiting usps.com, or calling 1-800-ASK-USPS (1-800-275-8777).
U.S. Post Offices in Murrieta are located at and Both offices are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Both have Saturday hours until 1 p.m.
Jackson said while postal locations in Murrieta and Temecula continue to be among the busiest, the U.S. Postal Service is poised to lose $21.3 billion annually by 2016 if steps to reduce costs are not taken.
Check back for a story on a five-year financial stability plan the U.S. Postal Service has submitted to Congress, which could include limiting mail delivery to five days.
