Tax Day mail must be in box by 5 p.m.

5 p.m. - that's the deadline for El Campo and nearby residents to ensure their taxes are in the mail Tuesday, April 15.

There will be no late pickup, Post Master Margaret Sparks said Friday.

"This year it needs to be on the truck by 5 p.m. to be processed," she said.

The post office is anticipating an extremely heavy volume of mail Tuesday as last-minute filers nationwide rush to the post office.

Taxpayers who haven't filed their taxes yet have just three days left to complete their tax returns. Completing your tax return at the last minute can sometimes lead to mistakes, the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants warns.

They suggest filers consider e-filing. More than 73 million Americans filed their tax returns electronically last year - and there's good reason. The return is checked for accuracy by IRS computers, and corrections are made automatically.

Starting next month, the Treasury will begin sending economic stimulus payments to more than 130 million households, but to receive a payment, taxpayers must have a valid Social Security number, $3,000 of qualifying income and file a 2007 federal income tax return.

Eligible people will receive up to $600 ($1,200 for married couples), and parents will receive an additional $300 for each eligible child younger than 17.

Millions of retirees, disabled veterans and low-wage workers who normally do not need to file a tax return must do so this year in order to receive a stimulus payment.