Taxmen!

And so it is the day after tax day. Did you get your returns filed on time? We visited the U.S. Post Office in the underground lair of Rockefeller Center yesterday afternoon, where we found a long and slow-moving line of deadline-finishers waiting to mail theirs. Why wait till the last minute? We asked them.

MIKE, Manhattan, investor
Why are you filing on the final day? I tried to do it online, but the software I was using didn’t work. Does being an investor make it any easier to do your taxes? No, it’s a painful process for anyone. I mean, I can use a calculator. Do you owe money? I got lucky this year, I get my money back.

DENIZ, Manhattan, finance
Why are you filing on the final day? I always leave it till the last day. Why? I don’t like paperwork, and I don’t bother. Do you owe money this year, or did you get lucky? I got lucky, I got money. What are you going to spend it on? I’ll think about it when I actually get the check.

PATRICE, Manhattan, works for a bank
Why are you filing on the final day? Just procrastination. There’s one piece I couldn’t file electronically that I thought I could. Which software did you use? H&R Tax Cut. Can you get me through the line faster? Sorry. Did you get lucky this year? Unfortunately, no. Got hit hard. Sorry. You’d think a Republican president would be more generous in the tax world.

BELEJI, Piscataway, New Jersey, IT professional
Why are you filing on the final day? Just postponing it, again. Being lazy. I knew I had to do it since the beginning of the year, but I had a feeling I’d do it on the last day. That’s how you generally operate? Yes.

CATE, Manhattan, finance
Why are you filing on the final day? I filed mine on time! This is for my boss. When did file yours? I did mine over two weeks ago. Was the line this bad then? I just mailed mine in. I didn’t have to get it certified. I was actually about to get on a plane, and this woman, whom I didn’t know — I placed my life in her hands — she mailed it for me.
—Marc Tracy