Last, last-minute tax tips for April 15: Be careful how you mail

The Internal Revenue Service processed more than 99 million income tax returns through April 3, down 1.3% from the same time a year ago.

Some people have been dragging their feet on filing a return, perhaps amid confusion about some of the new tax deductions — or perhaps for other concerns.

In all, 69.8 million refunds were issued through April 3, up 3.1%. The total dollar amount of refunds issued hit $241.74 billion, up 14.5%.

Some people, no doubt, will see super-sized tax refunds for 2025, if they're lucky enough to qualify for some new, potentially lucrative tax deductions. We're talking about tax deductions for tip income, overtime pay, new car loan interest and new tax breaks for those 65 and older.

Even so, the average tax refund isn't $1,000 higher, as had been earlier suggested by the White House.

Based on IRS data through April 3, the average federal income tax refund was $3,462 — up 11.1% or $346. A solid bump for many, but it also means some people are not seeing a big influx of cash either.

"Many taxpayers are delaying filing this year due to a mix of uncertainty, complexity, and timing issues," said Tom O'Saben, director of tax content and government relations at the National Association of Tax Professionals.

Some people are still waiting on key tax documents, such as Forms 1099, K-1s, and brokerage statements, he said.

"In some cases, these forms are arriving later than usual or being corrected after issuance, which makes taxpayers hesitant to file too early and risk needing to amend their returns," O'Saben said.

And then there are the worries about whether taxpayers are getting the rules right for some new tax breaks regarding tips, overtime, car loan interest and seniors. All have their own rules and many requirements that must be met. And the IRS has issued more information over time, such as recently releasing final regulations and clarifications for jobs and situations that qualify for the so-called "no tax on tips" deduction.

"Updates to deductions, credits, and reporting requirements mean both taxpayers and preparers are taking extra time to ensure accuracy," O'Saben said.

"When rules change, people tend to slow down and double-check their filings," he said.

Some tax filers also are waiting to file because they're worried that if they make a mistake, it could take a very long time to unravel it due to the ongoing staffing shortages at the IRS.

Here are a few more last-minute tax tips:

Do you need more time to file?

On April 14, the IRS once again reminded taxpayers that they can get an extension to file their federal income tax return until Oct. 15, 2026.

But a reminder: You must request the extension by April 15 to avoid penalties. No penalties or interest are owed for filing after April 15, though, if you're owed a refund.

"An extension provides extra time to file, not additional time to pay," the IRS said.

Anyone can request an automatic six-month extension offered through a "Free File" partner at IRS.gov. You can click on the "File an Extension" link.

You also can use Free File Fillable Forms. Taxpayers can complete and submit Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return PDF, electronically, regardless of income.

"To avoid or minimize penalties and interest, taxpayers should estimate their total tax liability, subtract any payments already made, and pay the remaining balance by the deadline," the IRS said.

Don't expect to show up at the post office at midnight

The days of people lining up at the post office shortly before midnight to pop those returns in the mail are long gone. Most post offices are open during regular business hours on Tax Day. Check the hours at your post office.

And there's another new twist this Tax Day: We're hearing more warnings about how postmarks might be handled, creating yet another reason to electronically file the return when possible.

The IRS notes that a paper tax return is treated as filed on the date it is postmarked. But when will your return be postmarked?

"The Postal Service reaffirmed through a recent announcement that the postmark might be later than the date that an item is dropped in a mailbox," according to an IRS alert.

The U.S. Postal Service adopted new rules governing postmarks, which were effective Dec. 24, 2025.

Unfortunately, at some local post offices, your postmark "may reflect when mail is processed, not when you send it," according to an April 8 alert by the National Taxpayer Advocate Service.

According to the taxpayer advocate, instead of reflecting the date when you drop your mail in a mailbox or hand it to a carrier, a postmark may reflect when the mail is first processed at a USPS facility.

"While these changes are intended to improve mail processing efficiency at limited post offices, they may have unintended consequences for taxpayers who rely on the mail to file returns or send payments, depending on how the USPS implements its new procedures," according to the taxpayer advocate's alert.

"To protect yourself, file or pay electronically when possible, or if mailing near a deadline, go to a post office counter and obtain a dated postmark and proof of mailing," the advocate advises.