Procrastinators in Lawrence have less time this year to mail their tax returns because most area post offices will close at their regular times Tuesday, including 5:30 p.m. in downtown.

Judy Raney, Lawrence’s postmaster, said it’s a district mandate this year for post offices, mostly because more people are filing online.

Traditionally, Lawrence’s downtown location, 645 Vt., and other area post offices remained open on Tax Day until midnight. The past two years the one in Lawrence closed at 7 p.m.

For those who miss the deadline in Lawrence, the General Mail Facility, 1410 N.W. Gage Blvd., in Topeka will still postmark mail by midnight.

Those in Lawrence who are used to the traditional Tax Day party at the downtown post office will still get it.

Steve Mason, of the Alferd Packer Memorial String Band, has invited acoustic musicians for a jam session in the post office lobby from 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Then the traditional party will begin at 7 p.m. complete with music and dancing even though the post office’s business office will be closed.

“It’s just kind of a Lawrence thing. This is a great town for that type of stuff,” Mason said.