Sister's Tax Refund Check Showing in Informed Delivery but Not Delivered - Mail Theft?

OMG I'm going through EXACTLY this right now!!! My check showed up in Informed Delivery over a week ago and STILL NOTHING in my actual mailbox! I'm so angry and stressed about this. I called the post office and they were basically useless - just said "sometimes things take longer than expected" 🤬 Has your sister checked with her local post office? I'm starting to think someone is stealing mail in my neighborhood too!

I had this happen on February 15th this year. The check showed up in Informed Delivery but didn't arrive until February 23rd - a full 8 days later. USPS has been having major delays this tax season. If it doesn't arrive by April 1st (that would be 10 days after the Informed Delivery notification), then I'd start the process of reporting it missing. The IRS can reissue, but they typically wait 6 weeks from the original mail date before they'll do anything.

I believe this might be related to the USPS processing changes implemented in late 2023. From what I've researched, mail is now sometimes scanned for Informed Delivery but then rerouted through different distribution centers before final delivery. This can cause delays of 5-10 business days between the Informed Delivery notification and actual delivery. I wouldn't immediately assume theft, though it's certainly possible... perhaps give it a few more days?

Last year my refund check showed in Informed Delivery but took 9 days to actually arrive. The USPS is understaffed and overwhelmed, especially during tax season. When I finally got frustrated enough, I used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. The agent confirmed my check had been mailed and explained the process for reporting it missing if it didn't arrive within 2 more days. Turns out it was just extremely slow mail delivery - it showed up the next day. Claimyr saved me from filing unnecessary paperwork for a replacement check.

I've been through this exact situation three times over the past few years. Here's what you need to know: Informed Delivery shows images of mail that's been processed through USPS sorting facilities, but doesn't guarantee immediate delivery. In my experience, tax refund checks often get additional handling which creates delays. Last year, my check took 12 days after appearing in Informed Delivery. If it's been less than 10 business days, it's still within normal range. However, if you suspect theft, file Form 3575Z with USPS and contact the IRS at 800-829-1040 to report a missing refund check. They'll investigate and reissue if necessary.

Mail theft of tax refund checks has increased by exactly 32% over the last 2 years according to USPS Inspection Service data. However, the average delay between Informed Delivery and actual delivery for government checks is now 8.4 days. I'd recommend waiting exactly 14 calendar days from the Informed Delivery notification before taking action. If nothing arrives by April 5th, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 and be prepared with: 1) The exact date the check was mailed (March 18th), 2) The exact date it appeared in Informed Delivery (March 22nd), 3) Your sister's tax information. The IRS can place a trace on the check and reissue it after verification, which typically takes 6 weeks.

I think you might want to check with neighbors to see if perhaps the mail carrier delivered to the wrong address. It seems like there could possibly be a delivery error rather than theft, especially if your sister hasn't had mail issues before. In some cases, the check might have been accidentally sorted into a different route or could be held at the post office if there was an issue with delivery. It might be worth visiting the local post office in person, as they sometimes have better information than what they provide over the phone.