March 10, 2008
The government doesn’t even trust itself.
I mailed our taxes today. Usually I get a “Certificate of Mailing,” which does not include proof of delivery, but is proof that I actually mailed the item. So if the IRS says we never mailed our taxes, we can prove we did. Or so I thought.
When I asked for it, the postal worker kindly informed me that the IRS doesn’t recognize a Certificate of Mailing as proof that it was mailed and strongly suggested the (pricier) Certified Mail, which includes delivery confirmation. “Why not?” I asked. She didn’t know. “But… it’s proof that I mailed it!” Nope, not to the IRS. They just, well, simply won’t accept it. She agreed that it made no sense. I think she sympathized with my need for a logical explanation but, alas, could offer none.
So apparently the Internal Revenue Service, paragon of virtue that it is, thinks the shady United States Postal Service is a bunch of liars and cannot be trusted.
Comments(9)
Maybe USPS should change its marketing, as well:
“When you need to verify that you’ve sent a letter or package – purchase a Certificate of Mailing.
A Certificate of Mailing is a receipt that provides evidence of the date that your mail was presented to the Postal Serviceâ„¢ for mailing. It can only be purchased at the time of mailing. And don’t lose it! It’s the only official record available.”
I’ve heard of this. Yes, apparently you can’t show proof that you mailed it. I guess they think you and the post office are in cohoots with each other.
Why don’t you e-file?
I’ll let David answer that in a little while… I know there are reasons, I just don’t remember what they are!
Haven’t we been over this before? What is it with you and e-filing?
1) E-filing costs money. (Of course, now mailing costs more than it used to, but no where near e-filing)
2) It doesn’t take that long to fill out the forms (I use the fill-in PDFs).
3) I don’t have to worry about someone else having my data and then finding out they had a security lapse.
4) Usually we owe money and I don’t want to facilitate their taking my money
5) Just in case e-filings are more likely to be audited or easier to audit, I don’t want to give the IRS that advantage.
6) E-filing doesn’t support all of the forms or you have to pay more for more forms (e.g., we itemized, had capital gains, and filed a form 5695 this year).
Oh, get over it! :) E-file is the way to go. At my place of business, if you don’t say otherwise, we e-file you.
Just a couple of corrections to your reasoning:
#3 They re-type your info into a computer. So you can paper file and they can STILL have a security breach and get your information. Or someone can open up your packet and take your check in the mail. I say that’s more likely. (when I worked at the bank, they showed us a check that was cashed for “IRa Smith”)
#4 Your money isn’t due until April 15. You can e-file in February and then mail the check at the post office at 11:59pm on April 15 and still be on time.
A couple of corrections to your reasoning
3a) I know the IRS has my info in their computers; give me a little credit here. I’m referring to the third party handling the e-filing – like Intuit or H&R Block (or your company, no offense). And I know they keep copies of the data because they let you start the filing and then come back to it later to finish it. I know there is no way to keep it out of the IRS system. The point is to diminish risk where you cannot eliminate it.
3b) It is much less likely for the mail to be intercepted when it is mailed at the post office and is certified. The interception of a certified letter is a medium-risk, low-reward proposition for the crook. Breaking into a third party system and accessing all of the information in their database is a low-risk, high-reward proposition.
3c) I have seen the I.R. Smith trick as well. That is why I make the check payable to the “United States Treasury,” just as they say on the 1040-V
4) So I have to make sure I remember to mail the check after I have remembered to pay my taxes and I still have to go to the post office and mail something certified? How in the world does that help me with anything? That’s the most expensive option yet. The price of e-filing AND the price of certified mail.
all of you are beyond funny! y’all are some of the few people that can make matt and me laugh out loud!
Boy, this is the last time I post about taxes!