Filing by mail, does everything printed go in the envelope?

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
July 2, 2020
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I am filing by mail and have printed my turbo tax returns. Do I include everything in the envelope that I printed

mesquitebean

Level 15

@morg2019

Why are you filing by mail? We might be able to help you efile, which is better and faster.

If you have both Federal and state returns, they go to different tax agencies in separate envelopes.

We don't know what all you printed, so we have no way to answer your question about whether you enclose "everything." Chances are, however, that some pages were printed that you may not need to enclose.

There should be a page called Filing Instructions in your paperwork. Try to find that to guide you. It should also have the proper mailing address to use based on your location. The particular address to use depends on whether or not you are enclosing a payment with your return.

You do not send worksheets, instructions, summary pages, etc. that may have printed. You send only the required forms per the following IRS instructions for Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR which I copied form the IRS website.

NOTE: these instructions may include forms that you do not have or need, depending on your situation.

"ASSEMBLE YOUR RETURN:

Assemble any schedules and forms behind Form 1040 or 1040-SR in order of the “Attachment Sequence No.” shown in the upper-right corner of the schedule or form. If you have supporting statements, arrange them in the same order as the schedules or forms they support and attach them last. File your return, schedules, and other attachments on standard size paper. Cutting the paper may cause problems in processing your return. Don’t attach correspondence or other items unless required to do so. Attach Forms W-2 and 2439 to Form 1040 or 1040-SR. If you received a Form W-2c (a corrected Form W-2), attach your original Forms W-2 and any Forms W-2c. Attach Forms W-2G and 1099-R to Form 1040 or 1040-SR if tax was withheld."

mesquitebean

Level 15

@morg2019

If you also have a state return to mail, then look for a page in your PDF/printout with the state Filing Instructions on how to mail to your state. Some states require that a copy of the Federal return be mailed along with the state return.

If your state requires a Federal copy, then you'll need 2 copies of the Federal return--one to mail to the IRS, and one to enclose with your state return that you mail to the state tax agency.

mesquitebean

Level 15

@morg2019

Also, it's a good idea to mail the returns by a method that has tracking, such as certified mail, Priority Mail, etc., which will show proof of mailing, and will also tell you if/when they were received.