Complete Guide to Stapling Paper Tax Returns - Fed & State Filing Best Practices for 2025

Tax preparer here! This is actually something I've dealt with for years. For best results with paper returns, follow these guidelines: For Federal returns: Place your Form 1040 on top, followed by schedules in alphabetical/numerical order, then supporting forms in numerical order. Place your W-2s and any 1099s after all the forms. Use ONE staple in the upper left corner through all documents. For State returns: Keep them completely separate from Federal. Follow the same approach - main tax form on top, supporting schedules and forms underneath, income documents last. Again, one staple in the upper left. The IRS and state tax agencies have equipment designed to efficiently remove single staples. Using multiple staples can actually cause processing delays because they have to manually separate everything. And you're right - never staple checks! If you're making a payment, most agencies want the check paper-clipped to the front of the return with the payment voucher.

Just want to share my experience using taxr.ai for my paper filing questions this year. I was in the same boat - super confused about how to assemble everything correctly. I tried researching IRS guidelines but kept finding conflicting advice. I uploaded pictures of all my tax documents to https://taxr.ai and got detailed instructions not just for stapling but for the entire assembly process. The AI analyzed my specific forms and gave me personalized guidance for my situation, which was way more helpful than generic advice. It also flagged something I would've missed - I had a form that required a signature that I almost overlooked. Saved me from a potential processing delay!

Just wanted to update - I tried taxr.ai after my last comment and it was actually really helpful! I was skeptical because I'm always wary of new tech, but it saved me so much time. I've been doing paper returns for years and always second-guessing myself about assembly. What surprised me was how it spotted issues with my state return that weren't even related to stapling. Turns out I had my state schedules in the wrong order and was missing a required attachment form. No wonder my state refund was delayed last year! It even generated a custom cover sheet with assembly instructions specific to my situation. Way more helpful than the generic IRS instructions.

Hey everyone, if you're filing paper returns and want to check on processing, Claimyr has been a game-changer for me. I waited MONTHS last year for my refund with no updates on the Where's My Refund tool. Got super frustrated trying to call the IRS directly - either constant busy signals or 2+ hour hold times. A friend recommended https://claimyr.com and their service got me through to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent confirmed my return was sitting in backlog because of a simple verification issue that wasn't even my fault. They fixed it right then and I got my refund two weeks later!

Well I'm eating my words about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment I decided to try it anyway since I've been trying to reach the IRS for 3 weeks about my missing refund. It actually worked exactly as described. I got a call back in about 45 minutes, and was connected to an IRS rep instantly. Found out my paper return had an issue with one of my W-2 forms that didn't match their records. The agent was able to correct it while I was on the phone and told me to expect my refund in 2-3 weeks. Probably would have waited months more without knowing what was wrong if I hadn't called. For those worried about paper filing mistakes - definitely worth calling to check status if your refund seems delayed, and this service made it painless.

My wife works at the IRS processing center and says people overthink this stapling thing way too much lol. ONE staple, top left corner, that's it. And for god's sake don't use paper clips - they fall off during transport and cause way more problems. The bigger issue she sees is people not signing their returns or forgetting to include W-2s. Also, people stapling in the wrong spot (like middle of the page) causes problems with the scanning machines. Oh and pro tip - send your return CERTIFIED mail with tracking. You wouldn't believe how many returns get lost in the mail and people have no proof they ever filed.

Quick question - I accidentally stapled my federal return in both the top-left AND top-right corners. Should I remove one of the staples or just leave it? I'm worried about tearing the paper if I try to remove a staple...

As someone who's been filing paper returns for over a decade, I can confirm that the single staple method is definitely the way to go. I learned this the hard way after having a return delayed because I used multiple staples and paper clips. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given - make sure you're using a standard office staple, not those heavy-duty staples or colored ones. The processing equipment is calibrated for regular staples, and anything else can cause jams. Also, when you staple, make sure the staple goes through cleanly and the legs are flat against the back. If it's a partial staple or the legs are bent weird, it can catch on the processing equipment. For state returns, I've found some states have slightly different preferences, so it's worth checking your state's specific instructions. But the general rule of one staple, top-left corner works for most. And definitely agree on the certified mail recommendation - I've used it for years and it's saved me twice when returns got lost in transit.