No, you should not paperclip or otherwise physically attach your check to your tax return when mailing it.
When submitting your tax return and payment by mail, it's crucial to follow specific guidelines to ensure your payment is processed accurately and efficiently. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) explicitly advises against attaching your payment to your return.
Why You Shouldn't Attach Your Payment
Attaching your check with staples, paperclips, or tape can lead to processing delays and complications. Here's why:
- Automated Processing: Tax returns and payments are often handled by different departments or processed through highly automated systems. Physical attachments can interfere with scanning equipment or require manual separation, slowing down the process.
- Risk of Damage: Staples and paperclips can tear documents or get caught in machinery, potentially damaging your return or check.
- Separation of Documents: Payments and returns need to be separated for accounting and record-keeping purposes. Keeping them loose allows for smoother handling.
Proper Way to Mail Your Tax Payment
If you are filing a paper tax return and making a payment by check or money order, follow these steps:
- Do Not Attach: Place your check or money order, along with any required payment voucher (such as Form 1040-V, Payment Voucher), loosely in the envelope with your tax return. Ensure they are not stapled, clipped, or taped together.
- Check Details: Make your check or money order payable to the "United States Treasury."
- Memo Line Information: On the memo line of your check or money order, write the following:
- Your Social Security Number (SSN)
- Your daytime phone number
- The tax year for which you are paying (e.g., "2023")
- The related tax form (e.g., "Form 1040")
- Mail Together: Send your return, payment voucher (if applicable), and payment in the same envelope to the correct IRS address. You can find the appropriate mailing address in your tax instruction booklet or by visiting the official IRS website.
Key Considerations for Mailing Your Tax Payment
| Action | Do | Don't |
|---|---|---|
| Payment Method | Use a check, money order, or consider electronic payment. | Send cash by mail. |
| Attachment | Place payment loosely with your return. | Paperclip, staple, or tape your payment to your return. |
| Check Details | Write SSN, phone, tax year, and form on the memo line; payable to "United States Treasury". | Leave the memo line blank or make it out to an individual. |
| Mailing | Use the correct IRS mailing address for your specific form and region. | Send to a general IRS address without checking specific instructions. |
Electronic Payment Options: A Preferred Alternative
For convenience and security, the IRS encourages taxpayers to pay their taxes electronically. Options include:
- IRS Direct Pay: Pay directly from your checking or savings account.
- Debit Card, Credit Card, or Digital Wallet: Payments can be made through third-party processors, though a fee may apply.
- Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS): A free service from the Treasury Department for individual and business tax payments.
Electronic payments typically offer immediate confirmation and reduce the risk of lost mail, making them a highly recommended alternative to mailing a check.
For more detailed information on preparing and submitting your tax return and payments, always refer to your specific tax instruction booklet or visit the official IRS website at www.irs.gov.
