New postmark rules were put in place on Christmas Eve that could affect you if your tax return is received by the filing deadline during tax season. How does this affect you? Simply put, the IRS imposes penalties and interest if your tax return is late, starting the day after the deadline in a tax year.

On Christmas Eve, the Trump administration made some quiet changes that define a postmark and when it is applied. Previously, when you mailed a letter, the USPS would postmark it that day the mail was received. Under the new rule, the official postmark will reflect when it was processed, not when you dropped it in a mailbox.

This has implications across the board, whether it’s mailing a tax return, voting ballet, or bills. Now, taxpayers won’t have the same protection or allowance. Now, even if you drop your return in the mailbox on time, it may be considered late. The IRS can start assessing penalties and interest from the day after the tax deadline of that year.

Bottom line: if you’re e-filing, you’re more likely to meet the tax deadline by filing timely. But if you’re paper filing, which is required for ITIN applications and certain amended and older returns, you run the risk of not meeting the tax deadline for that year.

At Sirius Tax Group, we are here for you, whether you need to e-file or paper file.

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