Assembling and Mailing Your Tax Return
Tax Guide
Assembling and Mailing Your Tax Return
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Seventy percent of Americans file their taxes electronically, according to the IRS. The IRS strongly encourages e-fling. And, while there is no doubt that electronic filings are easier on the IRS, they also provide a number of benefits to the taxpayers. Among these are:
- Security -- The IRS uses the latest encryption technology to safeguard your information.
- Faster Refunds -- Get your refund in as few as 10 days with direct deposit.
- Flexible Payments -- You can elect to file early, but delay payments until April 18.
- Proof of Receipt -- You automatically receive an acknowledgment that your return was received by the IRS.
There are multiple options for e-filing your tax returns. If your adjusted gross income was $58,000 or less in 2010, you can use "Free File" which provides access to free tax software to prepare and e-file your tax return. Free File is a public-private partnership, between the IRS and tax software providers, that makes approximately 20 popular commercial software products and e-file available for free. You can get the details at www.irs.gov/freefile.
Regardless of the amount of your income, you can use the IRS's Free File Fillable Forms. These are electronic versions of IRS paper forms that are available on the IRS website. The forms can be e-filed for free. However, there are some drawbacks. Free Fileable Forms provide only basic math calculations and support only federal tax forms. In addition, you can e-file right from your home computer using a wide variety of commercial tax preparation software packages that can be acquired readily at "big box" home goods stores or electronic stores.
If you insist on filing a paper return, you will need to make sure the forms are in the correct order.
Each form that you need to attach to your Form 1040 or 1040A has an "attachment sequence number" printed in its upper right-hand corner. When assembling your tax return, place the forms in order of their sequence, with Form 1040 (or 1040A) on top. If you have any supporting statements or schedules, attach them all at the end, in the same order as the forms or schedules they refer to.
Be sure to write your name and Social Security number on the top of each tax form, just in case they are separated. And, staple a copy of any W-2 Forms you received to the front of the return.
| Where to Send Your Tax Return (Payment Not Enclosed) | |
|---|---|
| If your legal residence is located in: | File with the IRS Center at: |
| Florida* or Georgia* | Atlanta, GA 39901-0002 |
| Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas | Austin, TX 73301-0002 |
| Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming | Fresno, CA 93888-0002 |
| Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin | Fresno, CA 93888-0002 |
| Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Rhode Island, Virginia, West Virginia | Kansas City, MO 64999-0002 |
| Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont | Kansas City, MO 64999-0002 |
| A foreign country, U.S. possession or territory**, or use an APO or FPO address, or file Form 2555, 2555-EZ, or 4563, or are a dual-status alien | Austin, TX 73301-0215 |
| *If you live in Florida or Georgia, are not enclosing a check or money order, and are filing after June 30, 2011 use Kansas City, MO 64999-002.
**If you live in American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands, see Publication 570. |
|
| Where to Send Your Tax Return (Payment Enclosed) | |
|---|---|
| If your legal residence is located in: | File with the IRS Center at: |
| Florida or Georgia | PO Box 105017, Atlanta, GA 30348-5017 |
| Alabama, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas | PO Box 1214, Charlotte, NC 282011-1214 |
| Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming | PO Box 7704, San Francisco, CA 94120-7704 |
| Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin | PO Box 802501, Cincinnati, OH 45280-2501 |
| Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Rhode Island, Virginia, West Virginia | PO Box 970011, St. Louis, MO 63197-0011 |
| Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina*, Pennsylvania, South Carolina*, Vermont | PO Box 37008, Hartford, CT 06176-0008 |
| A foreign country, U.S. possession or territory, or use an APO or FPO address, or file Form 2555, 2555-EZ, or 4563, or are a dual-status alien | PO Box 1303, Charlotte, NC 28201-1303 |
| *If you live in North Carolina or South Carolina, are enclosing a check or money order, and are filing after June 30, 2011, use PO Box 105017, Atlanta, GA 30348-5017. | |
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