NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 1, 2004

More Postage Required for Individual Income Tax Returns

(Washington, DC) The Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR) would like to alert taxpayers to the fact that additional postage is now required on the envelopes included in their 2003 income tax return booklets. The amount required to return completed tax forms to OTR by First Class mail is $0.49 for each one ounce. The total amount will depend on the number of forms included in the return.

OTR switched this year to the larger envelopes in order to reduce processing errors. It has been the agency's experience that folded returns have a higher rejection rate during the scanning phase of the processing of the returns. The result is often rejection of the forms, the need to recycle them, and ultimately delays in the issuance of refunds.

While OTR has advised taxpayers of this change in the 2003 tax booklet, next year the agency will provide more outreach such as placing a statement on the envelopes included in the booklet. No taxpayers will be penalized if their tax forms are returned for additional postage. Should taxpayers have additional questions, they may call OTR on (202) 727-4TAX (727-4829).