Tax Season Tips

Tax day is less than a week away. Have you filed your taxes yet? If not, there are a few important things you should keep in mind. It’s never wise to wait until the last minute to do anything, but waiting to the last minute to mail in your taxes could be a costly mistake.

Many Americans file taxes electronically now, but for those of you who prefer to mail them, there’s a few things you need to make note of. We’ve compiled this list of tips when it comes to filing taxes.

1.       Please note that you can no longer pick up tax forms from a post office. Instead you need to go to the IRS website itself. This is important to note, because individuals who wait until several days beforehand to pick up their forms are going to find themselves in a panic when they can’t get them at their local post office.

2.       Don’t forget to place a return address on your envelope. This could cause your item to be sent to a postal mail recovery office to determine the sender of the mail. Of course, this will delay its return.

3.       If you are planning to deposit your tax returns in a blue collection box on April 15^th, check the pick-up schedule. To get the April 15^th postmark, your mail needs to be picked up by a postal worker that day. Having it in the mail in time does nothing for you if you mail it after the collection box has been emptied for the day.

4.       Be sure to write clearly on your envelope, or better yet, print labels. The last thing you want is to go through the work of filing taxes and have the envelope be illegible.

5.       Be sure you use the correct amount of postage. Your item may weigh more than an ounce, and IRS will not pay for postage due. This means that your filing will be returned. If your letter is over one ounce, it needs more postage.

6.       It is encouraged by the USPS that you get security proof of mailing, as well as proof of delivery. You can ask for more details at your local post office.

7.       Do not mail your tax return from a personal mailbox. Thieves are on the lookout during tax season. Be sure to mail from a secure post office or collection box.

Don’t procrastinate and be sure to get your taxes filed in time. If you still have questions, call the IRS at 1-800-TAX-1040 (1-800-829-1040).