Is it better to mail our returns since we owe money? Or because of the terrible backlog, should we just go ahead and efile anyway and send a check separately?

@carolynarose77  Either way the payment will get there at the same time.

Even though the IRS will not process your return right away it will process your payment right away.  Then it takes a long time for your return to process.  I would just efile the return and mail the payment.

you must pay amount you owe by April 18th, regardless of any backlog.

do not file a paper return unless your e-File is REJECTED.