MONROE - The Monroe Post Office is offering tax mailing tips to those who still need to file.
- Taxpayers are urged to avoid typical errors made when mailing their returns, including unsigned forms, not enough postage and depositing returns in collection boxes after the pick-up time.
- Use pre-addressed labels where possible. Write clearly; take special care to ensure that handwritten envelopes are legible and include a return address.
- Use first-class postage - The Internal Revenue Service recognizes the first-class letter postmark as proof that the return was mailed on time.
- Affix sufficient postage. The price to mail a one-ounce first-class letter is 45 cents, 65 cents for two ounces, 90 cents for one-ounce first-class large envelopes and $1.10 for two ounces. Rule of thumb: up to five sheets of 20-pound paper in a number 10 envelope equals one ounce. Weigh any return that feels heavier than one ounce.
- The IRS does not accept postage due mail even if it has the April 17 postmark; tax returns with insufficient postage will be returned - penalizing taxpayers for filing late tax returns.
- For customers who send original receipts to tax agencies, certified or registered mail is a good choice.
n Make certain bulky envelopes are securely sealed.
- Postal regulations required that stamped tax returns weighing 13 ounces or more must be mailed at a post office. They cannot be mailed in a collection box.
- Taxpayers are urged to avoid typical errors made when mailing their returns, including unsigned forms, not enough postage and depositing returns in collection boxes after the pick-up time.
- Use pre-addressed labels where possible. Write clearly; take special care to ensure that handwritten envelopes are legible and include a return address.
- Use first-class postage - The Internal Revenue Service recognizes the first-class letter postmark as proof that the return was mailed on time.
- Affix sufficient postage. The price to mail a one-ounce first-class letter is 45 cents, 65 cents for two ounces, 90 cents for one-ounce first-class large envelopes and $1.10 for two ounces. Rule of thumb: up to five sheets of 20-pound paper in a number 10 envelope equals one ounce. Weigh any return that feels heavier than one ounce.
- The IRS does not accept postage due mail even if it has the April 17 postmark; tax returns with insufficient postage will be returned - penalizing taxpayers for filing late tax returns.
- For customers who send original receipts to tax agencies, certified or registered mail is a good choice.
n Make certain bulky envelopes are securely sealed.
- Postal regulations required that stamped tax returns weighing 13 ounces or more must be mailed at a post office. They cannot be mailed in a collection box.