High Desert’s last-minute sprint to post office

Hundreds of Central Oregonians paid a visit to the Bend post office Monday to pay off Uncle Sam — dropping off tax returns and checks to the federal government.

“If I get it done by the 15th, I’m happy,” one man said.

“I always wait until the last day,” said another.

Roy Erberich of H&R Block said most of his clients get their taxes finished before the deadline. But he was still swamped Monday and said he wouldn’t be surprised if he worked until midnight.

He said he’s noticed a trend with people who always wait until the last minute to file their taxes, whether they think they’re getting a refund or will owe more tax money.

“A lot of the clients I get are clients that think that they’re going to wind up owing money,” he said.

Many of the late filers NewsChannel 21spoke with said they’ve finished their taxes weeks ago — they just like to hold onto their money until the very last day.

“If I have to pay, I wait until the last minute,” said a man dropping off his return at the post office.

Others say they just got a little behind this year.

“My accountant just got everything done on Saturday,” one man said.

“It just worked out that way through the accountant,” said another, who added that he wasn’t stressed at all to turn it in.

Those who didn’t file their taxes or an extension will pay the price.

“The total amount that you owe can also be attached as a penalty,” Erberich said. “For example, if you owe $500, and you don’t file a tax return, you automatically owe $1,000.”

Even with an extension, you still have to pay any taxes you owe by Monday — and Erberich says there’s help for people who don’t have the money to pay up.

“They can wind up setting up a payment plan with the federal government, and-or the state of Oregon or any state,” he said.

But Erberich hopes people don’t get to that point, and says preparation and time is everything.

“(They should) come in earlier in the year, and that way we can see how much, if they actually owe,” Erberich said. “And that right there, they wind up having three or four more months to figure out where they’re going to come up with the funds.”