GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM Postal workers, from left, Robbie Kepaa and Laurie Ramelb collected and postmarked federal tax returns from last-minute filers last night outside the downtown post office on Richards Street.

Procrastinators
rush to file taxes

Tax preparers report heavy business
for the federal filing deadline

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By Pat Gee
pgee@starbulletin.com

H&R Block office manager Winnie Adolpho cut it closer to last night's federal income tax filing deadline than any of the procrastinators who waited in her office.

"I wait until we shut down (at 10 p.m.), then I do my taxes," said Adolpho, who manages the Ala Moana Center branch.

Luckily, she didn't have to run over to the post office, which extended its usual hours until midnight as a favor to late filers. She "e-filed" her return over the Internet at about 11 p.m.

Adolpho said about 25 people were lined up when doors opened at 8 a.m. yesterday. Since Friday, "we've been pretty smashed (busy). ... Everybody goes nuts, but it's exciting because the day goes by so quickly; before you know it, it's over."

On an average 12-hour day the past few days, her 26 tax preparers served about 190 people, she added. Returns can take between 45 minutes and an hour and a half each.

Ronald Ajifu of Makiki had an appointment at H&R Block but waited at least two hours before they were ready to take him. His wife went shopping until he called her to join him. Since his wife began her own business, filing a joint return got more complicated with all the deductions they had to claim, he said.

Chris Reyes of Waikiki had to wait for forms to come in from a former employer on the mainland, which arrived yesterday. She said she was nervous waiting until the last minute and even asked, "Can I tell them it's your (the company's) fault that I'm late?"

"I've never waited until the last day. This is the first time," Reyes added.

Apolosi Lauhingoa and her husband, Ma'o, of Kahuku said they wait every year to file on the last day because "we're just busy." They didn't have an appointment, but she said it usually takes them 20 to 30 minutes to be called at H&R Block.

Even though they live far away, they make a point of mailing their return at the main downtown post office to be sure it gets postmarked on time, Lauhingoa added.

Taxbusters' Kalihi office manager, Kimberley Morales, said her main branch on Dillingham Boulevard was not that busy at midday because of road construction, but thought it was "the lull before the storm." After a busy morning, Morales said she expected most people to come in around 5 p.m. after work.

But Taxbusters' four other offices on Oahu had people lined up to file their taxes, she said. Half had appointments and the other half were walk-ins, Morales added.