The fastest and easiest way to get your 2025 tax return is to filing online and selecting direct deposit. By submitting your tax return electronically with the IRS, you will receive your refund within 21 days on average. However, if you prefer a more hands-on method, you can file by mail and easily track your paper inspection by receiving notices from the US Postal Service.
Typically, a paper check will take three to eight weeks to arrive in your mailbox, but you can track exactly where your tax refund is and when you can expect to receive it with the USPS tracking tool, Informed Delivery. The free service sends you alerts on all new mail and provides images of the front of envelopes.
It's easy to set up and use USPS Informed Delivery — and we'll explain exactly how to do it. For more, learn about the earliest and latest you can file your taxes in 2025and which countries have tax deadlines except April 15.
How Informed Delivery works
USPS Informed Delivery is a free mail tracking service that automatically scans your incoming mail, sending you a picture of each letter envelope with your address on it, so you know what will be delivered and when.
When the US Postal Service processes mail through its automated sorting system, it creates a letter-sized digital image on the front of all mail. (This excludes magazines, boxes, and larger envelopes.) If you sign up for Informed Delivery, you can take advantage of this feature by receiving notifications when mail addressed to you is on its way. You will receive an email every morning, Monday through Saturday—excluding federal holidays—with details of an upcoming mail delivery. The email includes a grayscale image on the front of each letter.
Informed Delivery offers free apps for both Android and iOS users to receive updates on incoming mail. Please note that it may take up to three days to activate your account.
If you are tired of receiving notifications about every piece of mail that is scanned by the post office, you can cancel the service at any time.
Continue reading for more information on how to sign up for Informed Shipping.
Track packages with Informed Delivery
You can also track the delivery status of boxes and packages with Informed Delivery. Informed Delivery can't provide images of your incoming packages, but it will track them and let you add an electronic signature to receive packages when you're away.
How to set up USPS Informed Delivery notifications
You can set up Informed Delivery and notifications in a few short steps. First, head over to US Postal Service Shipping Information Page.
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Click on Sign up for free button.
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Next, enter your email address and then select your Account type. You can set up a Personal account for residential mail or a Business account to manage mail at a business address.
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Enter your postal address and confirm that the service is available at your address. Then accept the terms and conditions.
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Choose a username, password and security questions. Enter your contact information.
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You will need to verify your identity. Tap Verify identity online if you want to get a verification code on your phone or tap Request an invitation code by post if you want the post office to send you a code. You may have the opportunity to visit a post office to verify your identity in person.
Limitations on informed delivery
Informed delivery has several limitations. In addition to not being able to send pictures of your packages, Informed Delivery is not available for some multi-unit apartment buildings where the post office has not yet identified each unit. You can check if Informed Delivery is available in your area on the Informed Delivery website.
For more tax advice, see how the income brackets and standard deduction are changing in 2025.