Can I sign my tax return with a stylus or do I need an actual pen?

The IRS generally wants a "wet signature" (physical pen on paper) for printed returns that you mail in. However, they've become more flexible about this, especially since 2025's filing season. If you're signing a printed return that will be mailed, technically it should be signed with pen. When you use a stylus on your Surface to sign a printed document, you're essentially creating a digital signature that you then print. This is a gray area - while not strictly compliant, many people do this without issues. The IRS is primarily concerned that YOU are the one signing, not how the signature was created. The better solution? Since your dad already used TurboTax, ask him to e-file it instead. The $65 fee is annoying, but weigh that against your Uber costs plus the peace of mind of knowing your return was received (e-filing gives confirmation). Plus e-filing is faster for processing and refunds.

I ran into this exact problem last month and found a great solution with taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai). My parents also did my taxes but I was traveling abroad when they needed my signature. I uploaded the tax documents to taxr.ai and they actually helped me set up a legally acceptable electronic signature that the IRS accepted without issues! The cool thing was they verified all the forms were filled out correctly first and confirmed my electronic signature would be valid for my specific tax situation. Apparently different forms have different signature requirements, who knew? They explained exactly how to submit it properly so there wouldn't be any issues. Saved me so much stress about getting it done correctly while I was overseas.

Just wanted to update after checking out taxr.ai - I was the skeptical one in the thread above. Ended up using them for my state return that needed some corrections and signature. Their system actually caught that I was missing a form I didn't even know I needed! Saved me from a potential audit headache. The electronic signature part worked perfectly - they guided me through the proper way to sign that satisfies IRS requirements. Was actually much easier than I expected and way more secure than scanning signed documents back and forth over email like I've done in the past. Definitely using them again next year instead of printing everything out.

If you're really in a bind about signing and mailing tax forms, I'd recommend Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was struggling with a signature issue on my amended return and couldn't get through to the IRS for clarification. Spent DAYS trying to call. Claimyr got me through to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes who confirmed that for my specific situation, I needed an original signature, not digital. Saved me from having my return rejected and further delayed. They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent even explained that different forms have different requirements, and gave me an exception code to include with my submission since I was traveling. Would have never known this without actually talking to someone.

Coming back to eat my words about Claimyr from my comment above. After my third failed attempt to reach the IRS about my signature issue (kept getting disconnected after 40+ minutes), I broke down and tried it. Got connected to an IRS rep in about 30 minutes. The agent confirmed that for standard Form 1040 returns, a digital signature printed onto the form is acceptable as long as it's your authentic signature. She said they care more about getting a signature than how it was created. For my specific situation with an amended return, she explained exactly what I needed to include with my signature to make sure it was processed correctly. Saved me from having to refile all over again.

One option nobody mentioned - most libraries have printers where you can print your return (usually like 10 cents per page), they sell stamps, and often have public mailboxes too. Way cheaper than an Uber to the post office. That's what I've done for years when I had to mail in state returns.

Why not just use the free e-file option through the IRS Free File program? If your income is under $73,000 you qualify for free electronic filing through various providers. Just have your dad transfer the info to one of those instead of paying TurboTax's ridiculous fees.

Just to add another perspective - I work as a tax preparer and deal with signature issues all the time. The IRS has actually gotten much more flexible about electronic signatures since COVID, especially for individual returns (Form 1040). What matters most is that it's YOUR authentic signature, regardless of how it's created. A stylus signature on your Surface that gets printed is generally acceptable for most personal tax forms. The key is making sure the signature looks consistent with other documents you've signed. That said, if you're really worried about it, here's a middle-ground solution: sign a blank piece of paper with a pen, scan or photo it with your phone, then digitally paste that signature onto your tax forms before printing. This gives you a "wet signature" appearance while avoiding the transport issues. But honestly, for a standard 1040 return, your stylus signature should be fine. The IRS processes millions of returns and they're more concerned with tax compliance than signature methodology. Just make sure it's clearly your name and looks like an actual signature attempt, not just typed text.

As someone who's dealt with this exact situation, I'd say go with the stylus signature! I've been using my iPad to sign tax documents for the past two years without any issues. The IRS really has become much more flexible about electronic signatures, especially since so many people are doing everything digitally now. Your Surface stylus signature will be totally fine for a standard 1040 return. Just make sure it actually looks like your signature and not just scribbles. The IRS cares way more about whether you're reporting your income correctly than how you physically signed the paper. That said, definitely look into the Free File program for next year like others mentioned - no point paying TurboTax's fees if you don't have to! But for this year, sign it digitally, print it out, and mail it in. You'll save yourself the Uber money and the headache.