Quick Question - Posting Tax Return to the US Embassy

Hi there,

Last year my wife posted her US return by international recorded delivery to the IRS in the USA.  Someone said to me that she can just post it recorded to the US Embassy in London (which is cheaper and quicker). Is this true?

Many thanks

I don't know about that.  The US Embassy in London states the following for filing addresses:

Overseas Filers

Overseas taxpayers filing individual tax returns should mail them to the Austin Service Center:
Internal Revenue Service Center
Austin, Texas 73301-0215
U.S.A.

For private courier services (such as DHL, FedEx, or UPS) only, the following address should be used:

Internal Revenue Service
3651 South Interregional Hwy 35
Austin, Texas 78741
U.S.A.
Attention: Receipt and Processing
Telephone: (512) 460 7944
UK Residents

For UK residents there are options for ensuring delivery through the Royal Mail.

    International Signed For will track your item in the UK and provide a signature receipt when your item is delivered to the Austin Service Center
    Airsure items are tracked abroad and you will get confirmation of final delivery at the Austin Service Center


http://london.usembassy.gov/irs/irsoffice.html

I sent mine via Airsure on April 25th. It arrived in the US on April 28, and as of May 1 had made it to San Antonio, TX. It departed San Antonio (presumably to Austin), but has not yet been delivered. I called the IRS and was told "don't worry, it may be 8 weeks before it is received and logged in".

I'm not sure if the mail to the US Embassy still applies as it formerly did. You can call and ask. However, based on what I know now, I would pay the fees and send via UPS for peace of mind.

The IRS office in the US Embassy does push you to file with the US addresses but it also says

"All papers sent to IRS London will be routed to the proper office in the United States via regular mail. For faster processing, please mail your documents directly to the appopriate office in the U.S. using the contact information provided on this page."

Particularly if you want verified delivery, filing with the London office would seem to be cheaper if slower.

Last year I dropped off my (federal) return at the Embassy in London. I don't know how long it took to get there, but the IRS mailed me my (tiny) refund check (probably about 7 weeks later?), so it must have in the end.

I mailed my state return, partly because it was going to a different address and partly because I owed them money.

Aside from the £3 I spent to store my phone at the local chemist (which the embassy staff claimed I could've avoided, being an American), it was pretty quick and easy.

Thanks for the responses.  What I am wondering is if the date the return is received is when the London IRS receive it or when the Austin IRS receive it?

Technically an embassy is counted as US soil, so I expect if the IRS in London receive a signed for tax return this will be the date it is considered received by the IRS?

Thanks

The IRS person said it was date of posting, so I would assume date received at the Embassy, if you go that route.