Mailed Tax Return is Lost or Stolen

[fred495]

I mailed in my state tax return four weeks ago. The State Tax Department has no record of it and told me to resubmit it.

However, my main concern is that if the return was stolen some of my personal data, such as Social Security No. and checking account number, for example, could be compromised.

I would be curious if anyone has experienced a similar situation and what preventive measures, if any, they took.

Appreciate your advice and/or comments.

Thanks,

Fred

[Adonis]

Fred:  I worked in Maintenance at the Postal Service for 7 years now retired. I hated Tax day because of what I saw. The protocol when servicing the machines is to do a mail check but it all depends on the worker at the facility. Some workers are too fat to bend down and check between spaces others are just too lazy and don't give a rip. I myself would never mail a tax return through the postal service because of this. This is just the shortened version but if I were you I would have it sent over through Turbotax or whatever and pay the price.

[yogibearbull]

I have had this issue with USPS.

Last year, I used Certified Mail and the USPS online tracking showed that the federal tax return was just stuck in the USPS system. I opened a case file (not easy at USPS for lost/delayed mail), but eventually the USPS said that the mail WAS delivered but the postman forgot to update the tracking record. Eventually, the IRS also processed it.

This year, I used Certified Mail WITH Return Receipt. The USPS tracking showed that the federal tax return was delivered late (BTW, I paid the tax due via IRS Direct Pay, so no issue with a lost check), but Illinois tax return is still stuck within the USPS system. I am not going to bother filing a formal case. My state tax return is an informational return anyway (without any tax due).

Law is that the USPS stamp showing when the mail was sent counts. It doesn't matter when the IRS gets it, or logs it. This law doesn't apply to overnight services.

Calling the IRS or state is useless as it takes them days/weeks to take care of paper returns.

I may use Registered Mail the next time, or the overnight FedEx or UPS (I won't trust USPS Overnight) - those cannot go to PO Box, but only to physical addresses.

[anovice]

"Law is that the USPS stamp showing when the mail was sent counts. It doesn't matter when the IRS gets it, or logs it. This law doesn't apply to overnight services."

yogibearbull I guess the trick is to have USPS stamp your envelope and then take a picture of your envelope.

[fred495]

Thanks for your informative replies.

I e-filed my federal income tax return for free and already received my refund. However, my state tax return is not eligible for free e-filing, hence I have always used USPS for over 60 years without any problems. In the future, I will buy the software and also transmit it electronically.

You live and learn.

Fred

[anitya]

www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/7502#:~:text=%E2%80%9C(2)%20Certified%20mail

[fred495]

Apr 22, 2024 16:54:02 GMT fred495 said:

Thanks for your informative replies.

I e-filed my federal income tax return for free and already received my refund. However, my state tax return is not eligible for free e-filing, hence I have always used USPS for over 60 years without any problems. In the future, I will buy the software and also transmit it electronically.

You live and learn.

Fred

This rather sad tale continues. I just found out from H&R Block that if I want to use their software, I cannot electronically file my state tax return without first electronically filing my federal return. Since I e-filed my federal return weeks ago using the IRS' free software, my only option is to once again use the mail route. I haven't talked to TurboTax yet, but probably they also use the same setup.

This time, however, I hope I will have better luck using FedEx or UPS instead of USPS.

Fred



 

[fritzo489]

I would think if a professional tax preparer can e-file state & fed returns , one should be able to find soft ware that can did it done.

My question , does a professional tax preparer get a charge for every time they file a different person's taxes ?

My simple tax return now cost me $200 & I will look else where for 2024 taxes !

[fred495]

Yes, you would think so, fritzo.

I tried to get around paying a tax preparer by using the free IRS e-file system and mailing in my state tax return. This has worked without any problems for years. But, now that the state return is apparently lost/stolen, I have no choice but to resubmit my state return by mail again.

By the way, I just checked with TurboTax and got the same answer as H&R Block gave me: No, you cannot electronically file just your state tax return.

Quoting from their website: "The TurboTax state program is designed to transfer information from your federal return. For this reason, TurboTax state isn't sold as a standalone tax-preparation product.

You can use TurboTax to prepare and file your federal return without your state—but not the other way around.

If you already filed your federal return outside of TurboTax and just need to do your state, you can either:

1. Contact your State Department of Revenue or visit their website to use their tax-filing service or download and print out their tax forms, or

2. Re-create your federal return in the TurboTax software or TurboTax Online without filing it so you can prepare and file your state return using TurboTax.

You'll need to print and mail your state return, as state returns can't be e-filed on their own.

The first option is free; the second option requires paying for both federal and state returns, even though you won't be filing your federal."

[Deleted]

Apr 23, 2024 12:35:24 GMT fritzo489 said:

I would think if a professional tax preparer can e-file state & fed returns , one should be able to find soft ware that can did it done.

My question , does a professional tax preparer get a charge for every time they file a different person's taxes ?

My simple tax return now cost me $200 & I will look else where for 2024 taxes !

Consider AARP Foundation Tax Aid. It's free.
www.aarp.org/money/taxes/aarp_taxaide/

[gman57]

If your taxes aren't too complex Freetaxusa.com -- Fed free, State $14.99. I used Turbotax for the last 10 years but thought I'd try Freetaxusa.com this year. It was a piece of cake. I was even able to upload a pdf from last years Turbotax so it had last years info.

[fred495]

Thanks, gman.

My problem is that I already filed my federal tax return electronically for free using e-file, but since my mailed state tax return is apparently lost/stolen, I was trying to find a way to just resubmit my state tax electronically. Apparently, that's not possible because:

"The TurboTax state program is designed to transfer information from your federal return. For this reason, TurboTax state isn't sold as a standalone tax-preparation product."

I haven't found a vendor that doesn't bundle the federal and state tax software together. As I said, my only option is to resubmit my state tax return by mail, something I was trying to avoid.

Fred

[liftlock]

See if your state has an option for directly filing your state tax return online. 

[fred495]

Apr 24, 2024 2:20:11 GMT liftlock said:

See if your state has an option for directly filing your state tax return online. 

It does, but you have to be below a certain income level. Otherwise, you have to avail yourself of some of the above noted private tax software or mail in your return.

Of course, my other concern is that if the return was stolen some of my personal data, such as Social Security No. and checking account number, for example, could be compromised. So far, so good. 

Fred




 

[steadyeddy]

Apr 24, 2024 10:12:25 GMT fred495 said:

Apr 24, 2024 2:20:11 GMT liftlock said:

See if your state has an option for directly filing your state tax return online. 

It does, but you have to be below a certain income level. Otherwise, you have to avail yourself of some of the above noted private tax software or mail in your return.

Of course, my other concern is that if the return was stolen some of my personal data, such as Social Security No. and checking account number, for example, could be compromised. So far, so good. 

Fred




 

fred495, I am pretty sure you have frozen your credit reports with the 3 majors. Also, please contact your bank and see what options exist to deal with the situation..



Sorry that you have to go through this mess...

[fred495]

Thanks for your suggestions, steadyeddy. Much appreciated.

My credit reports have been frozen for years after the credit agencies themselves were hacked.

My bank advised me to regularly monitor my account. I will not be liable for any fraudulent activities. Of course, they will also notify me if they notice any unusual activities.

Fred

[fred495]

I resubmitted my lost or stolen state income tax return by USPS certified mail. Their online tracking system showed that it was delivered to the State Tax Department this morning.

Hopefully, I will eventually get my refund and put this episode behind me.

Thanks again for all your helpful comments and suggestions.

Much appreciated.

Fred