U.S. Postal Service practices formalized in December 2025 have created potential delays between mailing dates and postmark dates, raising concerns as two major deadlines approach. Taxpayers with six-month extensions face an October 15 deadline, while mail-in voters preparing for midterm elections on November 3 confront different requirements.
For federal tax returns, the IRS generally accepts filings on the postmark date, allowing taxpayers to mail returns and meet deadlines. Voters face a more complicated situation, as state laws vary significantly in how they treat mail-in ballots. Thirty-five states require ballots to arrive by Election Day regardless of postmark date, while 15 states plus territories allow ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive within specified timeframes afterward. The Supreme Court upheld in June that states may count ballots received after Election Day if they were properly cast and meet state requirements.
Operational changes at USPS have included reduced pickups and increased travel times to regional processing centers where postmarks are applied. Under the December 2025 rule, mail may not enter the system until the day after mailing in some cases, meaning postmarks often do not reflect actual mailing dates. Weekend and holiday closures can extend these delays further.
In response to election concerns, USPS announced plans beginning October 24 to employ extraordinary measures such as additional deliveries to election offices. Starting October 26, postal workers will hand-postmark ballots delivered to local election offices. Election officials recommend voters mail ballots a week before deadlines, or hand-deliver them to post offices for manual postmarking in states allowing postmark-based deadlines. About 1.2 percent of mail-in ballots cast in 2024 were rejected, with roughly 18 percent rejected for missing state receipt deadlines.
Taxpayers can avoid postmark issues by filing returns online or requesting manual postmarks at postal counters. Certified mail offers another alternative for those sending documents by mail.
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