Mailing your tax return near the deadline comes with a risk that 'matters more now than ever'

If you're planning to mail in your 2025 tax returns this year, one detail may make the difference between filing on time and missing the deadline: a postmark. While April 15 is when federal (and most state) taxes are due, the IRS considers any tax return postmarked on or before that date as being filed on time, even if it's not received by the agency until days later. A postmark shows the date your mail was processed and historically had been applied the same day you mailed an item. However, due to ongoing operational changes at the U.S. Postal Service , the day you mail an item may not be when a postmark is applied. Read more CNBC personal finance coverage Robinhood, BNY to build Trump accounts app New college grads face a tough job market — why unemployment hits them harder AI has a big problem when it comes to financial advice, MIT professor says Older Americans can find free tax filing help as big changes hit this season As 401 balances swell, financial experts warn of retirement planning pitfalls Teen sports betting raises concerns in schools, and a financial literacy push Market volatility poses a serious risk for new retirees. Here's how to prepare Trump's overtime deduction is a 'home run,' Treasury says. How it could change Stock market is in for 'choppy, bumpy ride,' strategist says. Here's how to play it Parents with student loans have limited time to secure forgiveness, affordable bills Social Security needs more money. The question is, who will pay? Should you 'buy the dip' amid the latest stock market volatility? What experts say Boston Fed: Credit card APRs have 'economically meaningful' impact on spending Retirement saver protection rule has died — for the second time CNBC's Financial Advisor 100: Best financial advisors, top firms ranked "The core issue is that taxpayers assume the day they drop a return in the mailbox is the day it gets postmarked," said Joshua Youngblood, founder of The Youngblood Group in Dallas and an IRS enrolled agent. "That h...