Post office maintains regular schedule on 'Tax Day'

Mail pickup for post office locations in Cherokee County remained on regular schedule Tuesday despite a midnight deadline to file 2007 income tax returns.

In the past, post office locations kept their doors open for extended hours to assist those trying to beat the clock. However, the computer age has made extended hours unnecessary, said Gaffney Postmaster Garvin Daniels.

"There are less people using the post office to send their taxes due to them filing electronically," Daniels said. "With that in mind, we saw no reason to extend our hours."

Post office locations across the county typically pick up mail to be postmarked at 5 p.m. April 15. According to Daniels, there has only been one occasion where the post office was forced to extend its hours.

'We extended things for 30 minutes a few years ago to help area residents make sure their taxes were postmarked for April 15," Daniels said. "But that was the only time it has ever happened."

Post office locations in Spartanburg and Greenville counties stayed open until 6 p.m. in some areas to help taxpayers make the deadline.

Cherokee County resident Tamika Burroughs needed no assistance in making the deadline, as the local woman filed her tax return last month.

"It was just something I needed to get out of the way," Burroghs said. "By filing early, the weight of having to do it is off my shoulders. Not to mention the fact my return is already in my account."

The possibility of receiving "free money" gave American taxpayers an added incentive to file their taxes this year.

In February, President Bush signed off on the Economic Stimulus Act, sending tax rebates to American homes.

The first round of checks are slated to begin being sent to households early next month. To receive the check, one is only required to file their 2007 tax return.

"The announcement came as a surprise... in some ways it does not seem real," said Cherokee County resident Brandon Thompson. "The money is definitely needed and at least for me will go in a good place."

Most single filers will get a $600 rebate, while married couples are eligible for a return of $1,200. Parents will get an extra $300 for every dependent child under age 17.

Disabled veterans and low-income senior citizens who do not typically file a tax return are required to do so in order to qualify for the rebate.