Dozens frustrated after waiting hours in line to make tax deadline

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Some Houstonians waited until the very last minute to file their taxes before midnight, resulting in long lines at the post office.

The old downtown post office has been closed for months, but after decades of being known as the place to drop off tax returns, people showed up and were not happy to find they were in the wrong place.

Instead, they were routed to the post office on Hadley Street near Crawford Street, where our photographer found more than 100 people standing in line.

They were waiting in line for hours trying to get metered stamps from one automated machine to prove their taxes had been filed on time.

Many were frustrated because a postal worker wasn't there to help.

"I think it could have been avoided," Jackie Hawkins said.

"The lines over here are so long, and there is supposed to be somebody outside to take them and obviously there is nobody here," Jean Watts said.

An Eyewitness News viewer sent us a photo of an automated machine not working. In the picture, you can see that it has a message under the Priority Mail option that says "I'm sorry. I can't do this right now" on the screen.

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