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Help Center  >  Pros  >  Review & E-Filing  >  E-Filing & Submitting

Professional Editions – How to Mail a Paper Return (Paper File)

A return may need to be paper-filed in the following situations:

  • The client elects to file by mail rather than electronically.
  • The return was rejected through the e-file process and must be paper-filed to resolve the issue.
  • The return is being filed after the IRS or state e-file shutdown period and electronic filing is no longer available.

Before mailing the return(s), be sure to read the filing instructions. They will include important information such as where to file, what to attach to the return (i.e. W-2s, 1099s, etc.), refund or balance due, information about estimated tax payments, etc.

Returns Rejected on the Filing Deadline – If a return is being paper-filed because it was rejected on the filing due date, include a copy of the IRS rejection notice along with a written explanation. To preserve the timely-filed status, the paper return must be mailed within 10 days of the rejection and no later than April 25.

NOTES:

  • File return, schedules, and other attachments on standard size paper. Cutting the paper may cause problems in processing your return.
  • The postmark date is used to determine whether the return was timely filed. If you are mailing a return, you may want to go to a Postal Service retail location and ask for a manual, or local, postmark. This will ensure that the date on the postmark is the same as the date of mailing. If the envelope containing the return is placed in a mail receptacle, it will still receive a postmark when it reaches a processing facility, but the postmark date may not be the same as the date that it was mailed. In short, if sending the return on or near the due date, request a manual postmark to ensure that the mailing will be considered timely by the IRS and state. 

To print a paper-copy of a client return to mail:

  1. From within the client return, click Print. This will open the Print Center.
  2. Navigate to the Mail Paper Return tab, then click Mail Paper Return.
  3. Follow the instructions to save the return and view alerts before printing.
  4. This will open the Print Center again, where you can enter the number of copies you would like to print.
  5. Click Print.

See Printing Client Returns for more detailed printing instructions.