Oklahomans Have An Extra Two Days To File Taxes

Saturday, April 15th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

TULSA (AP) -- Waiting in the office of a tax preparation service so close to tax deadline is a new experience for Tim Williams. Williams, an Oklahoma City resident, normally has his tax forms completed by now. But this year is different.

Because of an inheritance and some profitable stocks, Williams had several forms to fill out. He couldn't use the 1040EZ forms that he normally uses, he said.

"I just wanted to make sure that I have all the forms," he said this week. "I've put it off long enough."

Williams is one of the 25 percent of Oklahomans who wait until the last minute to file their tax returns. As of Thursday, about 73 percent of the 1.4 million Oklahomans expected to file returns had done so, said David Stell, spokesman for Oklahoma office of the Internal Revenue Service. Nationally, the response rate is 69 percent.

During what IRS staffers refer to as crunch week, the week leading up to April 15, the staff at each office around the state is increased, Stell said. More IRS customers equates to more post office customers as taxpayers race to beat the midnight deadline on tax day.

The lines at post offices on tax day are just as long as you would imagine, said Larry Flener, manager of consumer affairs for the Oklahoma district of the U.S. Postal Service. As soon as the doors open in the morning at many post offices, customers are jockeying for parking spaces and crowding lobbies to get forms completed at the last minute, he said.

"All day long, there are people looking for forms," Flener said. "They use our writing tables to complete forms and they'll be at our tables working on forms all day."

For the second year, the Postal Service and Mail Boxes Etc. locations throughout the state are collaborating on tax day. Thirty-eight Mail Boxes Etc. locations across the state will stay open until 9 p.m. to provide mailing services and tax mail acceptance. Mail Boxes Etc. provides an alternative to going to the main post office.

"Those that don't want the headache can go to MBE to get that important business taken care of," Flener said.

Some of those brave enough to wait in line at their local post offices will be entertained, he said. Flener said some post offices are having music, food and entertainment to keep the crowds occupied on tax day. Several post offices will also stay open later on Monday, Flener said.

The main post offices in Durant, Edmond, Enid, Lawton, McAlester, Muskogee, Norman, Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Sapulpa will be open until midnight to accommodate last-minute filers.