Station Overview. If you need to file a paper tax return, consider sending it by certified mail, with a return receipt. This will be your proof of the date you mailed your tax return and when the IRS received it. You may also use certain private delivery services designated by the IRS.
SECURED (REAL) PROPERTY TAXES
Property tax payments must be received or United States Postal Service (USPS) postmarked by the delinquency date to avoid penalties. Otherwise, the payment is delinquent and penalties will be imposed in accordance with State law.
Make it payable to the United States Treasury and provide your name, address, daytime phone number, taxpayer identification number, tax year, and form or notice number (for example, 2023 Form 1040) on the front of your payment.
Some IRS notices are sent via certified mail, such as the Notice of Intent to Levy, while others are mailed via regular post, like changes made to your tax return. Read all IRS letters and notices you receive, both certified and via regular mail. Do not ignore any of them.
Always use a secure method, such as certified mail return receipt requested, when you're sending returns and other documents to the IRS. This will provide confirmation that the IRS has actually received your documents or payment.
The easiest and most secure way to pay for most taxpayers is electronically (online or through the IRS2Go mobile app). Others prefer to pay by check or money order.
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming: Internal Revenue Service, P.O. Box 7704, San Francisco, CA 94120-7704.
Since there are very strict timelines in an audit or examination, when the IRS wants to notify the Taxpayer of an audit or examination, they will send the notice via certified mail.
Certified Mail is a service offered by the United States Postal Service. A certified item needs a delivery signature; it can't be left in a mailbox or on a doorstep. Certified Mail is only available on first-class mail. USPS lets you get a signature from the person who received the mail, such as a receptionist.
USPS requires that a certified letter must be signed for. If there is no one to sign for it, then a notification is left and the letter is returned to the post office where it will await a signature by the recipient. If the letter is not claimed within a certain time frame the letter will be returned to the sender.
The Internal Revenue Service will accept returns sent via Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express for those customers who would like verification that their return was delivered. The IRS accepts the postmark on the envelope as proof of timely filing.
The IRS will provide up to 120 days to taxpayers to pay their full tax balance. Fees or cost: There's no fee to request the extension. There is a penalty of 0.5% per month on the unpaid balance. Action required: Complete an online payment agreement, call the IRS at (800) 829-1040 or get an expert to handle it for you.
Balance of $10,000 or below
If you owe less than $10,000 to the IRS, your installment plan will generally be automatically approved as a "guaranteed" installment agreement. Under this type of plan, as long as you pledge to pay off your balance within three years, there is no specific minimum payment required.
IRC § 7502(a)(1) provides that if certain requirements are satisfied, a mailed document or payment is deemed filed or paid on the date of the postmark stamped on the envelope.
If the postmark does not bear a date on or before the last date, or the last day of the period, prescribed for filing the document or making the payment, the document or payment is considered not to be timely filed or paid, regardless of when the document or payment is deposited in the mail.
If you need to file a paper tax return, consider sending it by certified mail, with a return receipt. This will be your proof of the date you mailed your tax return and when the IRS received it. You may also use certain private delivery services designated by the IRS.
It's Usually Best Not to Refuse Certified Mail
Tax notices, evictions, and or being summoned to court are all things that won't go away just because you refuse certified mail.
If the documents you're sending are important for legal reasons, the Certified Mail service will help you to prove that they were delivered to their intended recipient, giving you legal protection, should you ever need it.
Certified Mail Restricted Delivery - Customers may direct delivery of Certified Mail only to the addressee (or addressee's authorized agent) Certified Mail Adult Signature Required - Customers may direct delivery of Certified Mail only to an adult (individual who is 21 years of age or older, not available at retail)
The IRS may send you a certified letter if there are issues with your tax return or other tax forms regarding your personal information.
The IRS sends notices and letters for the following reasons: You have a balance due. You are due a larger or smaller refund. We have a question about your tax return.
If you choose to mail in your payment(s), I recommend mailing your payment via certified return receipt or priority mail so that you can track it and have a written confirmation of the date and time the agency received your payment.
Using black or blue ink, make your check or money order payable to the “Franchise Tax Board.” Write your social security number or individual taxpayer identification number and “2023 Form 540-ES” on it. Mail this form and your check or money order to: FRANCHISE TAX BOARD, PO BOX 942867, SACRAMENTO CA 94267-0008.
Three Ways to Pay
Pay your taxes online at www.eftps.gov, over the phone, or through your tax professional, payroll service, or financial institution.
Check or money order payments may take up to three weeks to appear. Debit/credit card payments will appear 1-2 days after your payment date.