Tips for Sending Taxes by Mail

From USPS.com:

We know how important tax time is. That’s why we provide you with flexible product and service choices. You decide how you want to mail your returns—we’ll get them to where they’re going.

When you mail your taxes with the U.S. Postal Service®, you enjoy the benefits of the “timely mailing as timely filing/paying” rule for tax returns and payments. This year, as long as your return is postmarked by April 17 (or 18 if you live in Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, or the District of Columbia) the IRS considers your return to be filed on time.

Remember, if taxes filed from your location need to be sent to a P.O. Box, the U.S. Postal Service is the only carrier who can deliver for you.

Mailing Options
Three mailing options apply a postmark to your return, making you eligible for the “timely mailing” rule!
Express Mail® Service Your tax return can be delivered to many locations the next day guaranteed or your money back. Express Mail includes online tracking and signature at delivery.
Priority Mail® Service Get your tax return delivered in an average of 2-3 days.
First-Class Mail® Service First-Class Mail® is a quick, reliable, and economical way to mail your return.

Proof of Mailing Services
Proof of Mailing services provide you with peace of mind. You can prove you mailed your tax return, verify that it was delivered, or both!
Certificate of Mailing™ Service You’ll get a receipt as evidence that you mailed your tax return.
Certified Mail™ Service A Certified Mail receipt proves you mailed your tax return and gives you online access to verify the date and time of delivery.
Return Receipt This receipt verifies both mailing and delivery, returning a postcard to you signed by the person who received your package.

Online Services
Use USPS.com tools to help you mail your tax returns.
Print Shipping Label You can print Priority Mail & Express Mail labels for all your tax returns—with or without postage—and save yourself precious time.

USPS extends hours on tax day at some locations

The U.S. Postal Service® has long provided you with a convenient, reliable way to get your taxes delivered on time. We’ve extended hours on tax day at some locations to make things easier for you. This year when you mail your taxes with the U.S. Postal Service your return is considered filed if postmarked by April 17—or April 18 if you live in Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, or the District of Columbia.