POLL: Are You Ready to File? Tax Deadline Finally Arrives

While some Bay Area residents will be scrambling to file their income tax returns by Tuesday's deadline, others plan to file for an extension to give themselves six extra months to work out the details. But the filing deadline is still today.

Tuesday April 17, is this year's deadline to file tax returns, two days later than the traditional April 15. That day fell on a Sunday, and yesterday, April 16, was a little-recognized but legitimate holiday, Emancipation Day.

The IRS estimates that about 10.5 million taxpayers filed for an extension last year.  In fact they provide an online form that will give you a six-month extension. But you still have to make a payment when you file for an extension, based on an estimate of what you owe.

The number of post offices offering extended hours has decreased in recent years with more people filing tax returns online, according to the USPS. Even so, several local post offices are offering extended hours at certain locations to accommodate last-minute filers.

At the regular pick-up hours mean last pick-up is from outside boxes at 5:30 p.m. at the main post office, 617 Broadway, according to postmaster Mary Clark. Healdsburg Post Office on Foss Creek Circle is also open regular hours until 5 p.m.

Too early? at 1150 N. McDowell will remain open an extra hour, till 6:00 p.m., and they offer curbside drop-off from 4 - 8 p.m.

Also, the main Santa Rosa Post Office at 730 Second St. next to the federal and state buildings is open until 6:30 p.m.

Still need a couple extra hours? Try the San Francisco International Airport station, which is open until midnight. You can drop off your taxes on your way out of the country. 

But you still have time to answer our poll: are you going to be asking for an extension, or have you met the deadline? Let us know in the poll and comments below.

Bay City News contributed to this report.