Sometimes April 15 falls on the weekend and taxpayers are given a bit of grace in filing their federal and state income tax. Alas, there is no grace this year, and no longer is it sufficient to dart to the post office drop box to catch the 5 p.m. pickup. As has been previously announced on The Banner, Whitewater’s first-class mail does not leave the city until the next morning (Sundays excluded) after it is deposited in a box. The mail is then processed in the Oak Creek distribution center, where it may or may not be postmarked that next day. Consequently “mailing” a return on April 15 will not be considered timely, so penalties and interest may result.

If you’re mailing your return(s) on Wednesday, report to the post office before 5 p.m. and request a local postmark, which the clerk will be happy to provide.