HONOLULU -- A total of 25 Post Offices across the state will offer late collection of mail from specially marked collection boxes on April 17 to accommodate last-second filers of federal tax returns. In addition, the retail windows at the Airport Post Office will remain open until 9 p.m. -- one hour later than usual -- on that night in order to accommodate customers who need to purchase stamps or special services.

The deadline to file 2006 federal tax forms without requesting an extension from the IRS is Tuesday, April 17. This is because the traditional deadline -- April 15 -- falls on a Sunday this year and Monday, April 16 is Emancipation Day, a legal holiday in Washington, D.C.

All mail deposited by midnight in collection boxes labeled with a special bright orange sign indicating Tax Mail Drop -- Final Pick-Up Midnight will receive the sought-after April 17 postmarks. The locations of the 25 Post Offices offering late collections are:

Oahu

Airport Main Post Office

Downtown Post Office

Ewa Beach Post Office

Haleiwa Post Office

Kailua Post Office

Kaneohe Post Office

Kapalama Post Office

Laie Post Office

Makiki Post Office

Mililani Post Office

Waialae-Kahala Post Office

Waianae Post Office

Waikiki Post Office

Waipahu Post Office

Maui

Kahului Post Office

Kihei Post Office

Lahaina (Main) Post Office

Makawao Post Office

Wailuku Post Office

Hawaii

Hilo (Airport) Post Office

Kailua-Kona Post Office

Kamuela Post Office

Kauai

Lihue Post Office

Molokai

Kaunakakai Post Office

Lanai

Lanai City Post Office

Due to the declining numbers of citizens who submit their returns by mail (the IRS estimates that 60 percent of all federal tax returns will be filed electronically this year) the U.S. Postal Service is discontinuing its tradition of providing curbside service to last-second filers of federal tax returns at its drive-by collection boxes.

The Postal Service provides the following friendly reminders regarding the mailing of tax returns:

Not all boxes will be collected late. If you are mailing your return in a blue collection box or a drop slot at the post office, be sure to check the schedule for the last collection time. Except in specially marked boxes at designated locations (see above list), returns deposited after the last collection time will not receive April 17 postmarks.

Beat the rush and mail early. Mail your tax returns early in the day. Post Offices typically become very congested in the late afternoon and evening on the tax day deadline.

Ensure proper postage. Be sure to check that adequate postage is applied to your tax return. First-class postage for 1 ounce is 39 cents. Weigh any return that feels heavier than 1 ounce. Add 24 cents for each additional ounce up to 13 ounces. Heavier pieces go Priority Mail. Check the Postal Service Web site at www.usps.gov for a postage rate calculator. Tax agencies do not accept postage-due mail; tax returns bearing insufficient postage will be returned -- meaning taxpayers may be penalized for filing late tax returns.

Ensure proper addressing, use pre-addressed labels where possible. Write clearly. Take special care to ensure that handwritten envelopes are legible. Include a return address. Make sure that bulky envelopes are securely sealed.

Heavy packages require personal drop off. Mail with postage paid by postage stamps (as opposed to postage meter strips) that weighs more than 16 ounces must be presented in person to a clerk at a post office. Returns meeting this description that are deposited in collection boxes will be returned to their senders.

Tax forms are not available at post offices. Most post offices do not carry tax forms; only the most basic forms are available in post offices that do. Suggestion: Check out the IRS’s Web site for downloadable forms.