Here’s the Easiest Way to Track a Paper Tax Refund Check
The fastest and easiest way to receive your 2025 tax return is Submit online and select direct deposit. By submitting your tax return You will receive your refund electronically via the IRS within an average of 21 days. However, if you prefer a more hands-on approach, you can submit documents via regular mail and easily track your paper check by getting notifications from the U.S. Postal Service.
Typically, paper checks take three to eight weeks to arrive in your mailbox, but you can use the USPS’s tracking tool, Informed Delivery, to track exactly where your tax refund is and when you can expect to receive it. This free service sends you an alert for all new mail and provides an image of the front of the envelope.
Setting up and using USPS Informed Delivery is easy, and we’ll walk you through how. For more information, please learn The earliest and latest tax filing dates are 2025and which states have Tax deadlines other than April 15.
How informed delivery works
USPS Informed Delivery is a free mail tracking service that automatically scans your incoming mail and sends you an image of each envelope along with your address so you know what is being delivered and when.
As the U.S. Postal Service processes mail through its automated sorting system, it creates digital images of the front of all letter-sized pieces of mail. (This excludes magazines, boxes, and larger envelopes.) If you sign up for Informed Delivery, you can use this tool to receive 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 about your upcoming mail. The email contains a grayscale image of the front of each letter.
Informed Delivery offers free apps for both Android and iOS system Users receive updates on incoming mail. Keep in mind that it can take up to three days to activate your account.
If you get tired of receiving notifications about every piece of mail scanned by the post office, you can cancel the service at any time.
Read on for more information on how to sign up for Informed Delivery.
Track packages with Informed Delivery
You can also use Informed Delivery to track the delivery status of boxes and packages. Informed Delivery can’t provide images of the packages you receive, but it will track them and let you add an electronic signature to receive your package when you’re not home.
How to Set Up USPS Informed Delivery Notifications
You can set up Informed Delivery and notifications in just a few short steps. First, go to U.S. Postal Service’s Informed Delivery page.
-
click Free registration button.
-
Next, enter your email address and select your Account type. You can set up a personal account for residential mail, or a business account to manage mail for a business address.
-
Enter your mailing address and confirm that the service is available at your address. Then accept the terms and conditions.
-
Choose a username, password, and security question. Enter your contact information.
-
You need to verify your identity. tap Verify identity online If you want to receive a verification code on your phone or click Request invitation code If you would like the post office to mail you a code, please do so by mail. You also have the option of going to a post office to verify your identity in person.
Limitations of informed delivery
Informed delivery does have some limitations. In addition to being unable to deliver images of packages, Informed Delivery does not work in certain multi-unit residential buildings where the post office does not yet recognize each unit. You can check if Informed Delivery is available in your area on the Informed Delivery website.
For more tax tips, see How Income Brackets and Standard Deduction Will Change in 2025.
