Beneath the warm sun and cool breezes of April looms the ever-present horror of the tax season.

Tax day usually is on April 15. However, this year the annual tax return deadline falls on Sunday. When April 15 is on a weekend, taxes are due by midnight the next business day. This year, that deadline falls on Monday, April 16.

However, while returns must be postmarked by midnight Monday, Butler County residents waiting until Monday to mail returns need to have them at the Post Office well before the midnight deadline.

Greenville post office officials report that residents need to have their returns in the collection box by 5 p.m. for Monday's pick-up.

"If returns are in the box by 5 p.m. they will be sent to Montgomery and receive a postmark of April 16," says Tim Clark, route supervisor.

Both the Greenville and Forest Home post offices will close at their regular, 4:30 p.m., times Monday.

Pam Mitchell of the Greenville H&R Block office says, "Most people don't realize that if they are owed a refund from the government, they do not have to file their taxes by Monday.

They can wait up to three years to file, if they are to receive a refund."

Mitchell says the H&R Block office has been busy over the past few weeks, but is anticipating a large walk-in crowd on Saturday, as many residents are not aware they have Monday.

According to the U.S Post Office's Customer Service department, several

locations in Montgomery will remain open until the 11:59 P.M. deadline:

the Main Distribution Center at 135 Catoma St., Montgomery, and the Montgomery General Mail Facility,

6701 Winton Blount Blvd.