Headline: 📮 New 2026 USPS "Mailbox Rule": Is Your Tax Return Actually Late? Attention! For decades, we’ve relied on the "timely mailed, timely filed" rule. If you dropped your tax return in a blue mailbox on April 15th, the IRS considered it on time. That has officially changed for the 2026 tax season. As of December 24, 2025, a new USPS regulation (Section 608.11) clarifies that a postmark is no longer applied when you drop off your mail. Instead, it’s applied when your mail is first processed at a regional distribution facility. What this means for you: The Postmark Lag: If you drop your return in a collection box on the deadline, it might not reach a processing center until the next day—resulting in a late postmark and potential IRS penalties. The "Rural" Risk: If you are mailing from outside a major hub (like areas around Austin), the lag can be 48 hours or more. 3 Ways to Protect Your Filing: Manual Postmarking: Take your envelope to the count...