Submitting tax documents online is preferred by millions upon millions of tax filers. Transmitting the information online contributes to faster receipt and equally faster processing. Not everyone, however, is sold on the idea of sending electronic correspondence containing sensitive information. Fears over an identity thief procuring the info by way of hacking or other means leads many to stick with the old "tried and true" method of mailing documents. Of course, this may create a few concerns for someone who positively needs a returns to arrive at the IRS service center on time. These concerns end up being compounded for anyone who has not filed in several years. Being a little extra judicious with the mailing is suggested to make sure proper documentation is available if accused of non-filing after mailing in late returns.

Building a Less-Costly Paper Trail for Delivery

Mailing the documents from the post office and getting a receipt  is fine, but the possibility exists the US postal service may lose the package. Private couriers are more accountable, detailed, and -- arguably -- more reliable, but they can be more costly. A less-costly option employs using a private courier to take the package to a closer geographic area to the delivery point and then transfer over to regular U.S. mail. All of this is documented via the private service and the receipt by the postal service provides a government-stamped postmark date.

Request a Receipt Notice from the IRS

Contrary to what some may assume, the IRS does try to employ the best possible customer service and respond to reasonable requests. Submitting a letter with the return asking the IRS acknowledge the receipt of the returns is certainly reasonable. Remember, even though the post office or private courier guarantees delivery, the chances exist the IRS may lose the return inside one of its service centers. Upon receipt, the request from the  accompanying letter will be directed to a customer service division of the IRS while the return will head to the processing division. Even if the return ends lost, a copy of the written request should -- hopefully -- remain in the pipeline and this could act as acknowledgment of receipt. Such an acknowledgment could serve as evidence a return was filed.

Employ an Accountant

All documents related to tax preparation and even mailing will be kept on file with an accountant. This further serves as proof for the filing and mailing returns. The accountant's records would show steps were taken to prepare the return and mail the materials out. The IRS may end up being more accommodating to a taxpayer when such proof is presented. Such proof may assist in requests to waive fines.

For more information, contact a business such as Johnson & Associates, CPAs, P.S.

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