Sending Tax Payment by Mail - Should I Use Certified Mail?

YES!!! Certified mail is ABSOLUTELY the way to go!! I would NEVER send a tax payment without tracking! 😱 I learned this the hard way years ago when my regular mail payment got delayed and I ended up with a notice and penalties! The peace of mind is worth every penny of the certified mail fee. Make sure you also get the return receipt option so you have PROOF they received it! I take pictures of everything before sealing the envelope too - the check, the voucher, everything! Can't be too careful with the IRS!

Hey OP, how much are you sending? IMO if it's over $1k def use certified. Also are you using Form 1040-V with your payment? Gotta make sure you're using the right voucher or they might not know where to apply the $. The IRS isn't great at matching random checks to the right accounts lol.

Thanks for all the advice! Yes, it's Form 1040-V that my preparer gave me. The amount is around $4,000 (first year of marriage tax shock, lol). I'm definitely going to use certified mail with return receipt after reading these comments. The post office near me closes at 5pm, so I'll head there tomorrow. I was just worried I was being paranoid about sending a check through regular mail, but sounds like my concerns are valid!

Sending tax payments is like putting your money on a raft and pushing it into a river - you REALLY want to know where that raft ends up! Certified mail is good but if you run into any issues later (like they claim they never got it despite your receipt), getting through to the IRS to resolve it can be a nightmare. Last year I needed to prove I'd made a payment and couldn't get through for WEEKS. Finally used https://claimyr.com and got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes who confirmed my payment was properly applied. Time is literally money when dealing with tax issues - waiting too long can mean penalties!

Have you considered paying online instead? It would eliminate the mail concerns completely. Here's what you'd need to do: 1. Go to IRS.gov 2. Look for the "Pay" option 3. Choose Direct Pay if you don't want to pay a processing fee 4. Enter your tax information 5. Choose payment from your bank account Is there a specific reason you're avoiding the electronic payment option?

While certified mail provides tracking, you might consider using IRS Direct Pay (electronic payment) instead. It provides immediate confirmation of payment receipt and eliminates transit risks. The Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS) is another option that allows scheduling payments in advance. Both methods generate confirmation numbers that serve as proof of payment initiation, which is more definitive than proof of mailing. If you must use paper, send via USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt Requested and retain documentation for at least three years per IRS record-keeping guidelines.

I think sending it certified mail is probably a good idea, especially if it's a larger amount. I've sent payments by regular mail for smaller amounts (under $1,000) without issues, but for anything substantial, the extra $4-5 for certified mail seems like a worthwhile precaution. You might also want to consider writing your Social Security number and tax year on the memo line of your check, just in case the voucher somehow gets separated. And perhaps take a photo of the completed check and voucher before sending, just for your records. Better safe than sorry, right?

If you're concerned about mailing a check, you can actually pay online through IRS Direct Pay without creating an account. I just did this on April 2nd and it was surprisingly easy. You enter your tax information, choose the tax year (2023), and payment type. The system will confirm your identity with info from your tax return. Then you enter your bank routing and account numbers. You'll get an immediate confirmation email. No fees either! Much less stressful than worrying about mail, and you have instant proof of payment.