This overlooked tax detail could make today your real deadline

Tax day is right around the corner, but for some, the true deadline to complete returns is nearly a week earlier. That’s because if you’re planning to mail your tax returns to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) instead of filing them electronically, they’ll need to be postmarked — not mailed — by April 15.

Due to recent changes at The United States Postal Service (USPS) that impact transportation operations, mail may not arrive at originating processing facilities on the day it is mailed, the organization said in a January announcement. “This means that the date on the postmarks applied at our processing facilities will not necessarily match the date on which the customer’s mailpiece was collected by a letter carrier or dropped off at a retail location.”.

The agency says physically bringing your mail to a Postal Service retail location and asking for a manual postmark at the counter, rather than simply placing it in the mail, can ensure the mail is postmarked on the same day. Therefore, taxpayers who plan to put their returns in the mail should do so at least three to five days before the April 15 deadline.

Those who are anticipating not having their returns filed by the deadline can file for an extension. According to the IRS, there are three ways to file for an extension, which include paying online and checking the box to file for an extension, using IRS Free File, or requesting an extension by mail. While filing for an extension can give you until Oct. 15 to file your returns, it doesn’t allow you to pay any taxes you owe later than April 15. 

The bigger picture at USPS

Slowed down transportation operations at USPS are far from the only issues impacting the agency. Earlier this month, Postmaster General David Steiner told Congress that USPS is facing a “critical juncture” due to a “drastic reduction in the use of mail,” as well as overregulation. Steiner said that, as a result, the price of a first‑class stamp could rise to 90 to 95 cents, up from 78 cents, which he explained “would largely solve” the agency’s “controllable loss.” 

While the price of stamps isn’t going up for now, USPS did recently announce that, as of Sunday, April 26, the U.S. post office will implement an 8% transportation surcharge on packages. The change will be in effect until Jan. 17, 2027.  “This temporary price adjustment will provide needed flexibility for the Postal Service by helping to ensure that the actual costs of doing business are covered, as required by Congress,” USPS said at the time of the announcement.

Last year, about  6% (or 11 million) taxpayers filed their returns on paper instead of electronically, according to the IRS. 

Filing returns past April 15 may trigger interest and penalties on what you owe. “The failure to pay penalty is 0.5% of the unpaid taxes for each month or part of a month the tax remains unpaid,” the IRS explains. “The penalty won’t exceed 25% of your unpaid taxes.” However, since penalties are based on a percentage of unpaid tax, those who don’t owe taxes or are set to receive a tax refund won’t face financial penalties for late returns.

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