# At 1:45pm (Eastern Daylight Time) I dropped my tax returns into an official US mail box **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 13, 2026, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247 "2026-04-13T17:53:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2026, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247/41 "2026-04-13T22:43:49Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > especially since around 75% of returns result in a refund, and there is no penalty for filing late unless you owe money. ISTM that’s the best argument for “they don’t bother checking postmarks” of all. ---
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2026, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247/42 "2026-04-13T22:44:43Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > But given that you have to pay in full by April 15th, filing up to 6 months later isn’t beneficial whether you owe them or they owe you. Not true. We did the math, I could take what I owe, put it in a 6 month CD in March and make more than the fees by the time I need the money in October. I’ve actually done that a couple of times. Lately, it’s just not extra stress at a time where my actual business is enough stress - which is worth paying for as long as the fee is minimal. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2026, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247/43 "2026-04-13T22:47:44Z")
I got it done on time, and owed much less than I expected. Win/Win! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2026, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247/44 "2026-04-13T22:51:59Z")
Good point I hadn’t considered. If their late interest rates are below market, which they often are, you can make a small arb on late paying. As you say, the big help is avoiding an admin flail in 1Q if your biz is naturally berserk then. I’ve often wondered whether tax accountants file their own taxes way late for just that reason. 🤪 ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2026, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247/45 "2026-04-13T22:58:31Z")
e-Filed the taxes but snail mailed the check. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2026, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247/46 "2026-04-13T23:03:44Z")
It was filed by my accountant and I received notification it was accepted the same day it was filed. I just called their automated hotline and they said it should be deposited in my checking account by Wednesday, April 15th. I can hold on for two more days. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247/47 "2026-04-14T00:01:59Z")
For everyone who is mailing their return, I’m curious why. Are you typing up the forms manually? Using software that doesn’t support eFile, or trying to avoid the eFile charge? Something else? > [@Ancient\_Nerd](#): > > e-Filed the taxes but snail mailed the check. Is this for financial reasons? How much interest do you earn in those couple extra days versus the cost of the envelope, stamp, and check? ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247/48 "2026-04-14T00:04:27Z")
Before I was married and liked to live dangerously, I frequently put my tax returns in the mail on the 16th or 17th of April. This was in the 1990s, and I never ever had any issue with my returns being processed normally. I don’t think anyone checks postmarks on returns received in April. In my almost 30 years of marriage I have filed our joint returns well in advance, always before April 1. I married a Tax Accountant. She has never touched our tax returns except to sign in the early days when we submitted paper returns. To be fair she hasn’t been a PRACTICING Tax Accountant for over 25 years. ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247/49 "2026-04-14T00:11:11Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Is this for financial reasons? Just to tweak the machine. ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247/50 "2026-04-14T00:47:32Z")
> [@Alpha834](#): > > Federal refund hit my bank on Feb. 17 (looks down and sneers 🙂 ) I wouldn’t sneer too hard. Getting a refund means you overpaid during the year, which also means you gave the US government an interest free loan. Not the smartest use of your money. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247/51 "2026-04-14T02:32:21Z")
I’m a dinosaur who still uses paper checks for a number of purposes, but not for paying taxes. It’s way easier to login to [irs.gov](http://irs.gov) and my state website and pay electronically, and I don’t have to drive to the post office or worry about the postmark date. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha834](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Alpha834](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha834)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247/52 "2026-04-14T19:32:16Z")
Actually more than half of the refund was due to rebates on insulation upgrades. While i did overpay a bit, it was less than $1000 for the year so even with a 10% expected return the opportunity cost was less than $50 for the year, Well worth it to me to not have to worry about a tax bill at the end of the year. ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247/53 "2026-04-14T19:41:10Z")
fair enough, and I was just giving you a hard time. I always overpay as well. Would rather do that than have to worry about safe harbors and penalty payments. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha834](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Alpha834](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha834)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2026, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247/54 "2026-04-14T20:11:42Z")
No worries, probably should have added a smiley face at the end of my response to indicate it was not viewed as a response to serious criticism 🙂 i know some people like to maximize every dollar but definitely worth a few missed dollars to completely eliminate any financial concerns lol ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2026, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247/55 "2026-04-15T00:13:20Z")
Just got mine e-filed by the CPA. Getting a refund for the first time in a while thanks to retirement and my financial planner. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2026, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247/56 "2026-04-15T00:18:31Z")
You are now safe from my sneers. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2026, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247/57 "2026-04-16T12:44:51Z")
My federal tax refund was deposited in my checking account yesterday as promised by the IRS. It took almost a month for it to happen, but from what I’ve read there are lots of people eligible for refunds this year so that may be why it took longer than expected. If I had gotten my tax info to my CPA earlier then I would have gotten my refund quicker. Simple as that. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2026, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247/58 "2026-04-16T21:52:27Z")
People are unnecessarily afraid of the IRS, now California Franchise Tax Board, those are the scary ones. A lot more aggressive and powerful. People think you’ll go to jail if you file April 16. When the reality is they likely won’t care, or even notice for that matter, if it’s off a day or two late, or if you get a tiny 1099-INT interest form in the mail after the date. Also there are potential penalties for both not filing and not paying, but the former is a lot higher than the latter. If you’re broke, it’s best to file your accurate return and not pay a single dollar than it is to do neither. > [@wolfpup](#): > > In Canada, the deadline is April 30. However, the deadline is irrelevant if you don’t actually owe any taxes Same in the US, not a lot of people know that. It’s stupid not to of course, and you have a couple years to file. Note that this is only if it’s **obvious** you would be due a refund, for example if you’re self-employed and have $100,000 in gross income but net income is closer to $0, you need to file to report your expenses. If the IRS pays you late due to their own mess-up (not because you filed late) they will charge themselves interest and pay you extra. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2026, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247/59 "2026-04-16T22:03:46Z")
> [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](#): > > I wouldn’t sneer too hard. Getting a refund means you overpaid during the year, which also means you gave the US government an interest free loan. Not the smartest use of your money. The best situation if you itemize is to owe a small amount to the state (if applicable) and whatever refund from federal offsets this. Because state refunds are a taxable payment if you claimed them on taxes (i.e. if Schedule A box 5a has numbers and the box next to it is not checked). ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2026, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247/60 "2026-04-16T23:35:04Z")
4:15 at the post office on the 15th. Abd yes you can get that day’s postmark if you go in and ask for it. I was apparently in significant company; the tired looking clerk said she’d been postmarking taxes all day. The one person in line ahead of me (again, small town, lines are rare) was also mailing taxes. Turned out that I owed the IRS 19 cents. Which I didn’t have to pay; because you don’t have to pay amounts under a dollar. -– and I had other errands to do in town anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/at-1-45pm-eastern-daylight-time-i-dropped-my-tax-returns-into-an-official-us-mail-box/1029247.md?page=4)