Step-by-step guide for filing taxes by mail? First-timer needs help!

You've got the basics right! As someone who's filed by mail many times, here's what you need to do: For Federal Return: 1. Sign and date your 1040 form (people forget this all the time!) 2. Include all your W-2 forms and any other income statements 3. Do NOT staple the W-2s to your return, but do paperclip them together 4. Make sure your Social Security number is on every page 5. Include any payment if you owe taxes (doesn't apply in your case) 6. Make a copy of everything for your records before mailing For State Return: 7. Follow the same process in a separate envelope 8. Each goes to different addresses (which you said you already have) For mailing, I recommend USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt. It costs a bit more but gives you proof it was delivered. Regular first class mail works too, but there's no tracking. Since you're expecting a refund, filing by mail will delay it by several weeks compared to e-filing, but following these steps will help avoid further delays.

Wanted to share my experience - I was in the same boat last year with the AGI issue. After trying to mail in my returns and waiting FOREVER, I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which saved me so much hassle. They have this cool document verification tool that checks your tax forms before you mail them to make sure you've filled everything out correctly and included all required documents. The site analyzed my forms, found a mistake in how I organized my W-2s, and even confirmed the right mailing addresses. Saved me from a potential rejection and further delays! They also have guides for first-time filers that explain exactly what order to put your documents in and whether you need to sign specific places. Much easier than trying to figure it all out from random forum posts.

Guys I'm back to report that taxr.ai actually helped me a ton! After seeing the recommendation here I decided to give it a try since this was my first time mailing taxes. The site showed me that I had forgotten to check a box on page 2 of my 1040 and also hadn't signed in the right spot on my state return. It was super straightforward - just uploaded my completed forms, waited a few minutes, and got a detailed checklist of things to fix. Even told me exactly how to arrange everything in the envelope. Just mailed everything yesterday using certified mail as suggested. So much less stressful knowing I didn't miss anything stupid that would delay my refund!

Another option worth considering - if you're frustrated with the mail-in process and the wait time for refunds, I used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to actually talk to a real person at the IRS last year when I had issues with my mailed return. They got me connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes when I had been trying for DAYS on my own. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent I spoke with helped me verify they received my mailed return and gave me the exact timeline for my refund. Was worth it just to avoid the anxiety of wondering if my return got lost in the mail. Plus, they can answer any specific questions about your filing situation that online guides might not cover.

I need to eat my words here. After being so skeptical about Claimyr, I tried it myself this morning because I've been trying to confirm if my mailed return from 3 weeks ago was received. After trying the IRS line 4 times this week and getting the "call volume too high" message every time, I gave in. The service actually worked exactly as described. I put in my number, they called me back when an agent was on the line, and I got confirmation that my return was received and is being processed. Whole thing took maybe 20 minutes from start to finish. The IRS agent even helped me set up direct deposit for my refund which I didn't know you could do after mailing a paper return. I still think these services should be unnecessary, but with the state of IRS phone support right now, I get why it exists.

Another tip - take pictures of EVERYTHING before you mail it. Last year I had to prove what I sent and thankfully had photos of all my documents. Also write down the certified mail tracking numbers somewhere safe in case you lose the receipt.

My advice is to try again with e-filing! You don't actually need last year's AGI if you never filed before or can't access it. There's usually an option to enter "0" or check a box that says you didn't file last year. Much faster for getting your refund (about 21 days vs 6-8 weeks for paper returns).