Mailing Tax Returns Near April 15 Deadline Comes With Risk The U.S. Postal Service’s ongoing operational changes have introduced new risks for taxpayers planning to mail their 2025 tax returns before the April 15 deadline. A key factor in determining whether a return is considered on time by the IRS is the postmark date, which may no longer align with the day a taxpayer drops off their return. This shift has raised concerns among tax professionals and individuals who rely on the postal system for time-sensitive filings. The IRS considers any tax return postmarked on or before April 15 as filed on time, even if the agency receives it later. Historically, postmarks were applied the same day a return was mailed, but recent changes at the Postal Service have disrupted this process. According to a rule published in the Federal Register on December 24, delays between mailing and postmarking are expected to increase as the Postal Service modernizes its infrastructure and adjusts transportation schedules. The agency clarified that postmarks are still applied at processing facilities, but the timing of when mail is accepted and processed has become less predictable. Research from the Brookings Institution highlights the impact of these changes. Many post offices now send mail only once a day instead of twice, and about 52% of post offices are located more than 150 miles from their regional processing centers. This means some mail may not begin moving through the system until the next day, potentially delaying the postmark by up to a full day. In cases of weekends or holidays, delays could be even longer. Tax professionals warn that relying on the assumption that a return is postmarked the day it is mailed could lead to penalties.#irs #brookings_institution #us_postal_service #joshua_youngblood #tax_returns
Trump signs order directing creation of a national voter list President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order aimed at creating a nationwide list of verified eligible voters and imposing restrictions on mail-in voting, a move that has already sparked legal challenges from state Democratic officials. The directive, which Trump claims will combat widespread voter fraud, seeks to centralize control over election processes and has drawn sharp criticism from election experts and state officials who argue it violates constitutional principles. The order, released alongside the president’s remarks, calls for the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to compile state-level voter lists and mandates that the U.S. Postal Service withhold absentee ballots from individuals not on these lists. However, legal analysts have pointed out that the president lacks the authority to dictate the Postal Service’s operations. The executive order, which was first reported by the Daily Caller, reflects Trump’s ongoing efforts to undermine mail-in voting, a method used by millions of Americans. During the signing ceremony, Trump reiterated his false allegations of fraud, stating, “The cheating on mail-in voting is legendary. It’s horrible what’s going on.” He claimed the order would “help a lot with elections,” despite repeated debunking of his claims by courts, audits, and investigations. The move comes as the nation prepares for midterm elections, with Trump seeking to further limit voting access ahead of the November ballot. State officials in Oregon and Arizona, two states that rely heavily on mail ballots, swiftly pledged to sue.#donald_trump #social_security_administration #department_of_homeland_security #us_postal_service #tobias_read
Trump signs sweeping order attacking mail-in voting President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order Tuesday targeting mail-in voting, escalating his long-running effort to restrict voting access ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The directive, which marks the most aggressive federal action yet in Trump’s campaign against mail-in voting, includes measures to create a national voter list, mandate secure ballot envelopes, and require federal agencies to enforce strict eligibility checks for absentee ballots. In a statement during the signing ceremony, Trump claimed that “cheating on mail-in voting is legendary. It’s horrible,” accusing Democrats of using the system to “cheat.” He reiterated his longstanding allegations of widespread fraud, despite repeated refutations by election officials and experts. “Democrats want to use it for cheating,” he said, framing the order as a necessary step to protect the integrity of elections. The order directs the Department of Homeland Security to collaborate with the Social Security Administration to compile lists of verified U.S. citizens eligible to vote in each state. It also instructs the U.S. Postal Service to send absentee ballots only to voters on approved lists and mandates the use of secure ballot envelopes with unique barcodes for tracking. States would receive updated mail voter lists at least 60 days before federal elections, while the attorney general is tasked with prioritizing investigations into cases involving ballots sent to ineligible voters. States that fail to comply with the new requirements could face a loss of federal funding, a provision designed to pressure jurisdictions to adopt the administration’s policies.#donald_trump #social_security_administration #department_of_homeland_security #democracy_docket #us_postal_service
