With the April 15, 2026, tax deadline approaching, the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) has warned that recent U.S. Postal Service (USPS) processing changes could create risks for taxpayers who mail returns or payments close to the deadline.
The warning is based on federal tax rules under Internal Revenue Code Section 7502, which states that a tax return is generally considered filed on time if it is postmarked on or before the due date, even if the Internal Revenue Service receives it later.
However, the Taxpayer Advocate Service has raised concerns that USPS procedural changes introduced in late 2025 may affect how postmarks are assigned. In some cases, the postmark may reflect the time mail is processed at a postal facility rather than the moment it is deposited, potentially resulting in a postmark date after the filing deadline.
This could expose taxpayers to late-filing penalties and interest, particularly in situations where mail is submitted on the deadline and processed later due to facility delays, weekends, or high mail volume. The risk may be higher in rural areas where mail routing times are longer.
What Filers Should Do Now
The Taxpayer Advocate strongly recommends filing and paying electronically. For those who must mail documents, the agency advises visiting a USPS retail counter to obtain a dated postmark and proof of mailing. Certified or registered mail provides a verifiable record if the filing date is later questioned.
Postal Service Under Strain
The warning comes as the USPS faces its own financial pressures. The agency has proposed raising the cost of a First-Class Forever stamp from 78 cents to 82 cents, a roughly 5% increase that could take effect as early as July 2026, according to Benzinga. The USPS has reported cumulative losses of about $118 billion since 2007 and warned it could run out of cash within the next year without major changes.
Broader IRS Risks This Season
Filing by mail also exposes taxpayers to rising fraud risk. The IRS released its annual Dirty Dozen list of top tax scams this season, flagging AI-enabled phone fraud, phishing and spoofed caller IDs as primary threats. A McAfee survey found 23% of U.S. adults said they or someone they knew had lost money to a tax scam, with victims reporting average losses of $1,020.
The IRS says most electronic refunds are issued within 21 days. The April 15 deadline applies to both returns and any taxes owed.
Disclaimer: This content was produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
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