Mailing FBAR via Airsure?

Just about to mail FBAR, and it's 36 quid via Fedex! Yikes! I checked royal mail, Airsure is much less. It's delivery confirmation but not signed for.

My question is this: Is Airsure condsidered regular mail, so does it go to the regular mail address for the FBAR? There is a separate address you mail the fbar to if using a courier service, I'm assuming I would not use that address?

I've never used Airsure before, so I'm just fumbling around here to find a way to mail the form wherein we can at least know it arrived, but I think I'll go with regular mail before I spend 36 quid to send two pieces of paper.

I must admit I am thinking the same thing! I am going to airsure DH's normal tax return but im back and forth about the fbar......

I must admit I am thinking the same thing! I am going to airsure DH's normal tax return but im back and forth about the fbar......

So is Airsure basically regular mail? I guess that's a dumb question, I just want to mail it to the proper address since the FBAR has a different addy for courier mail. I assume Airsure goes by the same addy as regular mail.

I guess it depends how much peace of mind you need as to whether you use fedex or airsure. I'll feel ok with this 2010 form if I just get confirmation it arrived via airsure. When I send in the three years of back fbars I didn't know I had to do, I may use fedex. I don't know why I'd use that for the other forms, except they have me stressed and if I get even a tiny bit more peace of mind with fedex, it may be worth it for those.

Yup, airsure is regular mail just with the added tracking bit on it so it should go to the regular mailing address (I didnt even know there were 2!)

My only issue with it is if it doesnt arrive in time - apparently they wont take the mailing date into consideration if its not sent via fedex/ups/something else American 

You are correct that the FBAR is not a tax return, which is why the "postmark rule" does not apply.

This form has to arrive with the US Treasury in Detroit by 30 June each year.  There are no extensions.

If the FBAR was missed in previous years but all foreign income was declared, the late FBARS can be filed with an explanation by 31 August - under the provisions of the 2011 OVDI.

I'm not concerned about it arriving in time as I'll mail it shortly and it's not due until June 30, so I think Airsure will handle it. I asked about it while in the PO yesterday and it sounds like the way to go.

Quick update - I posted DH's tax return and FBAR via airsure on 12th May. Tax return arrived on 16th May and the status for FBAR says its been handed over to the USPS

Quick update - I posted DH's tax return and FBAR via airsure on 12th May. Tax return arrived on 16th May and the status for FBAR says its been handed over to the USPS

So yours was there in 4 days to reach Usps ....I mailed mine on May 18 and it says it "has been passed to the overseas postal service for delivery in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA." But how long does it take before it actually arrives at the destination??

No Idea - my status for the FBAR is still the same as yours 

No Idea - my status for the FBAR is still the same as yours 

I was told at the Post Office that a postal worker actually scans the item when it is delivered at the addressee. So that sounds like ours haven't been delivered yet, because it should say it's with the IRS?

I really hope they DO scan when it arrives, or I'll have to go ahead and pay the high fedex to resend soon, as it has to be there by the end of June. As I also have 3 years of back forms to mail (which are done, I'm just tweaking the letter to go with them), I'm already super-stressed about whether we'll be fined for sending those late -- I really want my 2010 form there on time! I will definitely be sending the over-due forms via Fedex to avoid this not-knowing-if-it's-arrived BS, but I don't know if I should send this years' form with the past-due ones. Majorly sucks. ;(

Pretty sure Airsure doesn't continue tracking once it's in the US. The 'addressee' in this case is the USPS, and then it's in a separate system and doesn't get tracked to the end anymore.

Well my status for DH's tax return which was also sent by Airsure says the following:

was delivered in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA on 16/05/11.

It seems both of mine got to the US on 16th May but have no idea if they got delivered! DH was due a small return so i'll have to get him to check if he's received it yet!
Here's more info from the website:

Track & Trace
To ensure a fast, reliable and secure service, Airsure® items are scanned at 6 different points, from collection in the UK to delivery overseas.

Post Office® (for those items paid for and posted at the Post Office® branch)
Local mail centre
Royal Mail International processing centre
Office of Exchange overseas
Mail Centre overseas
Delivery Office overseas
Although Airsure® is not a guaranteed service, Royal Mail works closely with its overseas partners to continuously improve quality of service and reliability of Track & Trace information.

So I think DL is right - i'm just gonna go with it and hope for the best I assume if its been passed to USPS it means its gone through customs and thats usually the biggest hurdle right?

If you go to USPS Track and Trace:-

http://www.usps.com/shipping/trackandconfirm.htm

Enter the Airsure number and it may show up.  This was the case for an important letter we sent a couple of years ago.  The number seemed to go all the way through the system.  But once it is passed to USPS you can no longer track it on Royal Mail.

Give it a go.

Many thanks for the link, abi. That is most helpful.

Oh wow!

Okay so tax return states this:

Class: First-Class Mail International
Service(s): International Letter
Status: Delivered

Your item was delivered at 7:07 am on May 16, 2011 in AUSTIN, TX 73301.

Detailed Results:
 
 Delivered, May 16, 2011, 7:07 am, AUSTIN, TX 73301
 Arrival at Unit, May 16, 2011, 4:03 am, AUSTIN, TX 78710
 Processed through Sort Facility, May 15, 2011, 8:24 pm, SAN ANTONIO, TX 78284
 Processed through Sort Facility, May 14, 2011, 7:05 pm, JAMAICA, NY 11430
 Origin Post is Preparing Shipment

Whereas FBAR shows this:

Class: First-Class Mail International
Service(s): International Letter
Status: Processed through Sort Facility

Your item was processed through and left our DETROIT, MI 48233 facility on May 16, 2011 at 6:11 am. The item is currently in transit to the destination. Information, if available, is updated periodically throughout the day. Please check again later.

 Processed through Sort Facility, May 16, 2011, 6:11 am, DETROIT, MI 48233
 Processed through Sort Facility, May 14, 2011, 7:05 pm, JAMAICA, NY 11430
 Origin Post is Preparing Shipment

Not sure why that one is taking so long to get to its destination!

Thanks loads Abi!