Post Office Girds for Last-Minute Rush of Income Tax Mail

The main post office on Midway Drive has never been accused of being one of San Diego’s late-night, happening places. But it will become one of the county’s hottest attractions Friday, when more than 30,000 people are expected to flock to it to beat the midnight deadline for filing their income tax returns.

Beginning at 3 p.m. and enlisting the help of the San Diego Police Department to direct traffic, employees will be ready to handle the masses of late filers expected to jam the drive-through lanes in front of the post office.

In an effort to alleviate the traffic crunch, motorists will be diverted into three eastbound lanes and one westbound lane of Midway Drive, said Mike Canone, communications manager for the U.S. Postal Service in San Diego. Armed with huge mail hampers, 14 postal employees will stand in the street near the flagpole, collecting tax returns as cars pass by.

“We’re trying to ease the traffic congestion this year,” Canone said. “Last year I witnessed delays of over an hour. People were backed up on the Rosecrans exit from Interstate 8 West. It was taking them a long time to get down to the post office.”

In two words, the post office has the answer for people looking to avoid the last-minute dash for a midnight postmark.

“Early mailing,” said Canone. “Postmaster Margaret Sellers has asked that people mail their returns before 3 p.m. Friday to avoid traffic.”

Alternative Sites

The post office at 2535 Midway Drive is not the only drop-off point for tax returns.

Others where returns can be mailed until midnight and still receive an April 15 postmark are:

- 750 3rd Ave., Chula Vista.

- 401 W. Lexington Ave., El Cajon.

- 203 S. Orange St., Escondido.

- 211 Brooks St., Oceanside.

Padres ticket holders attending Friday night’s game against the San Francisco Giants will also be able to mail their returns and receive the all-important pre-midnight postmark. A collection box will be set up just inside the stadium at Gate F, Canone said.

After midnight, the party is over. Past years have found postal workers working well past the midnight filing deadline trying to accommodate the late mailers. This year, however, the post office is drawing the line.

“We are going to immediately shut down operations, even if people are still in line,” Canone said. “We have been forced to do this. The amount of mail has been growing and growing each year, and it got to the point where people were in line 20 and 25 minutes after midnight. “We thought we should draw the line. This is a service we’re providing as a convenience, and it’s not to get around the midnight filing deadline.”