topic Efile vs USPS Costs in State tax filing

Efile vs USPS Costs

romad — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 23:26:14 GMT

Intuit charges $25 to efile a state return.

I mail mine Priority Mail Certified Return Receipt for less than half that:

Postage: ca. $1.90

Certified Fee: $5.30

Physical Return Receipt: $4.40

Total: $11.60

It's a no-brainer.

Re: Efile vs USPS Costs

SteamTrain — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 00:37:44 GMT

True...for those who the extra $$ are critical.

But...BUT...it can take a paper filed tax return a couple months to get processed....along with funding cuts that have reduced IRS paper processing staff.

Then...it took my brother a couple extra months to get his paper filing corrected when an IRS processing employee accidentally entered one of his 1040 numbers on the wrong line as they have to type the paper data into their computer processing system.

Your choice to do what you want.

Re: Efile vs USPS Costs

romad — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 01:03:36 GMT

I efiled my FEDERAL return. Intuit's excessive fee for state filing is the problem as it takes a large chunk out of people's refunds. BTW, states don't usually sit on returns unlike the IRS slugs.

Edit: Oh TWICE the IRS slugs CASHED our tax payments then in November said we had NOT filed! Turned out the IRS office charged with processing tax returns were depositing payments but then tossing the returns aside. I hope several IRS slugs were fired over that. Fortunately the different office that was charged with checking up on supposed non-filers just asked us to send copies to them. I did along with photocopies of the return receipts showing the signature and date the returns were originally received.

Re: Efile vs USPS Costs

SteamTrain — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 01:00:47 GMT

Yeah...I was thinking more about the IRS than the state.

I imagine the various states can have their own problems too.

But if it works for you...go for it.

Re: Efile vs USPS Costs

romad — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 01:06:36 GMT

Well, it's getting to where I no longer even owe taxes to my state. However I still have to file the paperwork!

Re: Efile vs USPS Costs

Mike9241 — Sat, 21 Feb 2026 01:43:31 GMT

it's especially a no-brainer when you owe. file now - pay later.

Illinois may be even better, though there are restrictions on who can use the online electronic form to file online for free