Posted on: 10 February, 2003
Author: Wayne M. Davies
Reprint ... ... Ezine editors / Site owners **Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in ... or on your site so long as you leave all links inplace, do not modify the c Reprint Guidelines:** Attention Ezine editors / Site owners **Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in yourezine or on your site so long as you leave all links inplace, do not modify the content and include my resource boxas listed above.If you do use the material, please send me an email so I cantake a look: mailto:[email protected]===========================================================The 37 Cent Mistake-- by Wayne M. DaviesCopyright 2003 Wayne M. Davies Inc.===========================================================When it comes to filing your tax return, spending 37 centscould be the biggest mistake you ever make. Millions of taxpayers make the mistake of putting theirincome tax return in a regular letter-sized envelope,sticking on a 37 cent stamp, and placing the envelope intheir mailbox.And millions of taxpayers "get away" with this mistakeyear after year.Why do I say that putting your tax return in the mailboxis a mistake?Let me explain.Every year, a small percentage of mail doesn't getdelivered. The U.S. Postal Service doesn't like to admitthis, but it's true.Furthermore, even if your tax return gets delivered to theIRS, every year a small percentage of tax returns get lostby the IRS.Don't believe me? I'll never forget the day one of myclients showed me a letter he received from the IRS:"We regret to inform you that we received your return....but have lost it."Honest to goodness, this actually happened!So my question to you is this: What are you doing to do ifthis happens to you!If your tax return doesn't get delivered, or if it getsdelivered but is subsequently lost inside the mammoth IRS,what are you going to do to prove that you actually mailedthe return?Just calling the IRS and saying, "Well, I mailed it ontime. I know I did!" isn't going to prove anything. Andthe burden to prove you mailed the return on time will reston your shoulders.You have two ways to solve this potentially dangerousproblem:OPTION #1: File your return electronically.There are many benefits to e-filing. The one I want you to focus on now is this: When you e-file your return, youreceive an electronic acknowledgement within 48 hoursthat the IRS has accepted your return.Bingo! Now you have proof positive that the return wasfiled. 'Nuff said?E-filing is rapidly becoming the filing method of choice.But the majority of returns are still filed on paper,so here's a second way to avoid the "missing return"dilemma.OPTION #2: If you're a "paper filer", go to the post officeand spend a measly $4.05 to send the letter via CertifiedMail, Return Receipt Requested.Doing this will accomplish two very important things:1. Certified Mail (which costs $2.30) provides the proofthat the return was mailed, and that it was mailed on time,on or before the due date.According to the IRS, a paper return is filed on time if itis mailed in an envelope that is properly addressed andpostmarked by the due date. When you use Certified Mail,you will get a receipt postmarked by the postal employee,and that date on the receipt is the postmark date.So, should the return get lost by the IRS, or if the IRSquestions whether you mailed it on time, you will havewritten proof. Plus, every piece of Certified Mail is assigned a trackingnumber which can then be traced by the U.S. Postal Serviceshould a problem arise.2. Return Receipt provides another level of insurance.For an extra $1.75, when the letter is delivered, theIRS must sign or stamp a receipt that documents the date ofdelivery. This receipt then gets mailed back to you, sothat you now have the written proof that the IRS receivedit.Technically, you only need to send the return via CertifiedMail to prove that it was indeed mailed on time. But Ireally like the Return Receipt as well -- it gives you thatextra "peace of mind" to know that the IRS received it. Andyou'll know exactly what day it was received. This is theproof of delivery.So don't run the risk of having your tax return get lost inthe mail.And don't run the risk of having your tax return get lostin the piles and piles of paper that flood the IRS eachyear. Think about it. Well over 100 million personal income taxreturns are filed with the IRS every year, and the majorityof them are still prepared on paper and mailed by the U.S.Postal Service.The U.S. Postal Service and the IRS are staffed by hard-working people who are only human. People make mistakes.To greatly reduce the chance of a mistake being made withyour return, don't you make the mistake of just putting yourtax return in the mailbox.Instead, e-file it, or take it to the post office and send it Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested. It couldbe the best $4.05 you ever spent! Article Tags: Cent Mistake, Return Receipt, Certified Mail Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com