If you’re mailing your tax return today, April 15, here’s some good advice
Source: https://www.kiplinger.com/taxes/new-usps-postmark-rules-and-your-mailed-tax-return
An IRS rule change taking affect in 2026 resulted in this advice:
- At the postal facility. Go to the counter and ask the clerk to “round-date stamp” or “hand cancel” your item (this assumes you’ve already affixed the proper postage). This is the circular, manual stamp most of us are familiar with. To avoid legibility issues cropping up during processing, ask the clerk to place the stamp in a clean area of the envelope.
- At the retail counter. Get a postage validation imprint (PVI). After you pay for postage, the clerk prints a white rectangular sticker (the PVI) and affixes it to your envelope. Like the hand stamp, the IRS accepts the date on a PVI label as the official postmark and proof of when USPS took possession of your return.
- Send your return via certified mail. This is sometimes called “the gold standard.” With certified mail, you get a receipt with the date stamped on it. If the IRS claims they never received the return or that it was late, this piece of paper is physical proof that a USPS employee held your tax return in their hands on April 15.
Hopefully, these tips on mailing your tax returns on time will give you a little peace of mind.
Posted: April 15th, 2026 under Adirondack Region News, Law Enforcement News, National News, Northern NY News.