More Missourians filing taxes online

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- More Missourians than ever filed their tax returns online this year as more post offices cut back on the traditional late tax day hours.

Ted Farnen of the Missouri Department of Revenue estimates that three out of every four Missourians filing a tax return this year will opt to e-file rather than mail in their returns.

"It is roughly 75 percent of people (who) filed electronically last year, and we've seen that percentage go up quite a bit over the last few years as people get more and more used to using computers for everyday activities," Farnen said.

Missouri is keeping up with the rest of the nation, as of April 6, the IRS reports that 87 percent of tax returns filed so far this year have been submitted electronically.

The rise in online filing, combined with an ongoing budget crisis at the U.S. Postal Service has also led to more and more offices declining to stay open until the midnight tax deadline.