WHERE TO FILE?

U.S. Mail

If you file a return on paper, you may be tempted to just drop your tax return in the mail. However, if you send your return by regular mail, you can't be assured that it was received by the IRS, so consider using registered or certified mail to file your tax returns. Not only can you easily trace your mail using these methods, the IRS considers registered or certified mail the best evidence that your return was timely filed. If you opt for U.S. Mail, note that the IRS has changed the filing location for several areas, so double check where to send your return by reading the instructions on your tax form.

Private Delivery Services

You can also use private delivery services designated by the IRS to meet the "timely mailing as timely filing/paying" rule for tax returns and payments. If necessary, you can contact the respective private delivery service to find how to get written proof of the mailing date. Otherwise, you can usually track delivery online so you can rest assured your returns have been delivered. Remember that private delivery services cannot deliver items to P.O. boxes -- if you only have an IRS P.O box for delivery, you must use the U.S. Postal Service. Also be careful to use the private delivery services which have been approved by IRS. Those include only the following:

•DHL Express (DHL): DHL Same Day Service.

•Federal Express (FedEx): FedEx Priority Overnight, FedEx Standard Overnight, FedEx 2Day, FedEx International Priority and FedEx International First.

•United Parcel Service (UPS): UPS Next Day Air, UPS NextDay Air Saver, UPS 2nd Day Air, UPS 2nd Day Air A.M., UPS Worldwide Express Plus, and UPS Worldwide Express.

Courier address:

Internal Revenue Service

3651 S.IH 35

Austin, Texas 78741

United States of America

Tel: 512-460-7948

However, Revenue Ruling 2002-23, 2002-18 IRB 811 provides that federal tax returns mailed by taxpayers in foreign countries will be accepted as timely filed if they bear an official postmark dated on or before midnight of the last date prescribed for filing, including any extension of time for such filing.