Tax Day

The April 15 tax deadline cometh Wednesday. To handle procrastinators, 32 post office branches around the Southland--including nine in the San Fernando Valley--will be open until midnight Wednesday, said David Mazer, L.A. post office manager of corporate relations. Additional information is available at 800-ASK-USPS.

New Rules

The 1997 Tax Reform Act instituted changes in a number of areas, including home sales, capital gains and IRAs. Asya Yelent, above, assists an H&R; Block customer with some of the paperwork. Beginning at 8 a.m. today, some local H&R; Block offices will be open around the clock until deadline.

Missing Forms?

The best place to find tax forms at the last minute is any of the three Los Angeles-area IRS offices, including one at 6230 Van Nuys Blvd. in Van Nuys. For faxed forms, call the IRS at (703) 368-9694. Other information is available at the agency’s Web site--www.irs.ustreas.gov. The state site is www.ftb.ca.gov.

Free Filing

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance--is a free filing service offered by the federal and state governments at more than 200 sites around Los Angeles. The sites are bound to be crowded. “At this point in the game, [volunteers] may or may not be able to help,” said Christina Navarrete-Wasson, an IRS spokeswoman. Information about the service is available by calling (800) 829-1040.