2025 Tax Return with payment and voucher now "missing" by USPS Advantage Ground

[RETIREDGRANDDAD]

Good Morning

My 2025 Tax Return is now "missing" by USPS Advantage Ground as it was too heavy for regular certified. I mailed it in at the post office on March 19th so  I do have a tracking number and it is insured.    My personal check for underpayment and voucher were enclosed.   I filed a missing mail search request and got an email a few days later saying there was "delivery exception". Deadline is fast approaching and I am worried.  If the return is delayed past the April 15th deadline, or it is actually lost and not just delayed, I may not know until long after the April 15th deadline.   Can I just pay the amount owed, about $950, now online so I do not get fined and pay a penalty in case it never shows up?   I will than mail my paper return a second time and hope it gets there.   Does that make sense?   If I can do that what happens to the original check I sent in with my first return if that return does show up somehow later on ?   Will the IRS cash it and than I will have paid my tax twice or will the IRS figure it out and not charge me twice ?   What do you think I should do ?   Thank you, frank 

[DavidD66 · Accepted solution]

I would file an extension and pay the tax with the extension.  There is a good chance the return will show up at the IRS before October 15th.  The IRS will deposit your check which will result in an overpayment, which they will refund to you after process in your return.  If your return hasn't been received by the IRS by the end of September, file another return.  Consider e-filing.  

You can file your extension at our Easy Extension website, or for more options see: How do I file an IRS tax extension? 

[RETIREDGRANDDAD]

Thank you.

I just got done paying the underpayment online.    While doing that you have to check the reason.  I saw "extension" and checked that off.   So once payment is accepted, the extension is automatic.   I do not have to file a Form 4648.   Just have to make sure that the reason you checked off is for extension or the extension is not granted.

Also, I received an "MRC"  number from USPS.   MRC is Mail Recovery Center.   This is where all lost undeliverable mail is sent for 30 or 60 days and than "supposedly" is destroyed.   The reason it is undeliverable is the sender and receiver address is not readable.  THey will tear open the package and try to find an address to send it to.  I know for a fact they do NOT do that.   4 years ago, my tax return was "lost" and we saw it again, and the IRS never got it.   Obviously if they tear open the package they can see our address.  

 BTW I Sent the package containing the return in TWO  large yellow envelopes, one inside the other. I did that because of how our return from 4 years ago was "lost".   I than used heavy duty clear packing tape around the edges.   The addresses were type printed,  22 pt, and than I used the tape to cover both address labels twice.   The point is, if the package is so damaged it cannot be delivered, than it was intentional.  Simple as that.  When you look at the IRS zip code extension, 1000 means it is a payment which means there is a check inside with names, acct numbers and my signature.  They can bleach the check and use it and charge it to my bank acct.   Or they can try to hack my checking acct.  

I think the USPS employee(s) saw that zip code knew the check was inside and knew it was a tax return with SSN's and names, phone numbers etc and planned to use that info, or sell that info for money.   There is no doubt in my mind that is what happened.   Happened before.   We had to change our bank acct numbers.  

I called the post office and talked to one of the supervisors, than the so-called postmaster.   HE apologized.  He said it may still be deliverable but was NOT able to do anything more to help.   He than bragged about the low percentage of lost mail being 1%.   I told him 1 percent last year equated to 642,000 pieces of mail were lost.   I asked him how many pieces of mail were stolen each year.  He said he doesn't know.  I asked him about the 5961 cases of internal mail stolen last four years and how many cases were closed and prosecuted.  We got disconnected.   

I don't see how USPS stays in business except that it is a govt entity and protected by the govt.

Anyway, just getting this off my chest.... Sorry to impose.

Thanks again, frank