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Tax time is right now

by Sally J. Taylor

The hours continue to tick toward one of the most ignoble days of the year for Americans far and wide.

April 15.

Tax day.



Tomorrow.

Maybe you have a numbers phobia. Or you don’t want Uncle Sam to have your check any sooner than necessary. Or plain old procrastination.



Whatever the reason for not having that packet in the mail yet, it’s time to face the facts. The tax man waiteth and so does the post office.

By 11:59:59 p.m. Thursday, the story of your financial year better be sliding into the post office bin.

That’s not to say you should plan on waiting until the last second. You could be caught in line at the fateful time. You may not turn into a pumpkin at the stroke of midnight, but you could rack up late fees.

The lines at South Lake Tahoe’s post offices may not wind through the parking lot as they do in the big cities, but a steady stream of last-minute filers should be anticipated, according to Tom Millham, spokesman for the main branch.

“I advise people to try to get in here as soon in the day as possible,” Millham said.

The main post office at 1046 Al Tahoe Blvd., next to Lucky, will have extended hours on Thursday. It’s the only post office on South Shore, California- or Nevada-side, that will do so. The office window will stay open until 10 p.m. for all services. The drop boxes, inside and outside, will be emptied at midnight and postmarked for the 15th.

Mail Boxes, Etc. in the South Y Center will be giving the post office a hand. The company will offer mail metering until 10 p.m. Thursday.

The company plans to celebrate the end of tax time with balloons and other party accouterments.

“Everyone’s going to be real pleased they got it done,” co-owner Carol Cotcher said.

But all that happens tomorrow. Today, April 14, you may need help.

Good luck. This time of the year, accountants’ family members tend to forget what they look like.

However, it is possible to get help even now.

“If it won’t take very long, (David Olivo, CPA) would take a look,” said his assistant Marion Daniels.

“If I had time left after getting my current clients done, I’d try to take a look,” said Eric Schafer, CPA. “But it would be doubtful.”

“If they have their information together, we’d try to schedule them in,” Wendy Mickle at Jack Marcarelli’s office, said with a nervous laugh. “At a minimum, we’d try to get the minimum information and put them on extension.”

Those who forge ahead on their own may need a clean tax form.

The post office is out of California forms.

After running out last year, Millham said they ordered more but the state sent the same number.

Other government offices carry forms, though perhaps not what you’re looking for. The Department of Motor Vehicles, even though it’s a state agency, only carries federal forms.

Never fear, you can find what you need at the library.

As of Tuesday, the South Lake Tahoe Branch Library, 1000 Rufus Allen Blvd., was out of 10-40EZ and Schedules A and B forms.

“There’s always a shortage of some forms,” said Sally Neitling, head librarian.

However, the library always has the reproducible books of forms and pages can be photocopied for 15 cents a page.

If you need a form, don’t wait too long. The library will only be open on Thursday until 5 p.m. Today, it’s open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Tax forms are also available at the Douglas County Library in Zephyr Cove. The library is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. both Wednesday and Thursday.


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