certified mail tracking | LetterStream Blog

Certified Mail Is the ‘Read Receipt’ That Actually Means Something

Here’s a fun little game: go search your inbox or text messages for “read receipt.” Now, try to remember the last time that actually meant something.

Can’t think of one? Same.

Because while email and text read receipts might give you a tiny dopamine hit, “Ooh! They saw it!”—they don’t hold up in a courtroom, a compliance audit, or even in a conversation where someone swears they never got your message.

But you know what does?

Certified Mail. And yes, it’s still alive, well, and wildly underrated in 2025.

Email Is a Great Tool—Until It’s Not

Look, we’re not anti-email. It’s fast, free, and fine for 90% of your communication. But the moment you need real accountability, something legally trackable, something your future self won’t regret. Just know: email isn’t it.

That’s when Certified Mail steps in like the responsible older sibling who keeps receipts.

Here are some examples:

Need proof a client actually got that legal notice?
Need to confirm a resident received the HOA violation letter you sent last week?
Need to settle a dispute without playing “he said, she said?”

Cue Certified Mail.

Certified Mail is your “We did our job” card. It comes with tracking, timestamped delivery and delivery attempts, and a return receipt if you want it. It’s not just a message—it’s your lifeline for your business.

What Certified Mail Does That Email and First-Class Mail Can’t

Let’s break it down. Because not all mail—and definitely not all “read receipts”—are created equal.

Sure, First-Class Mail is already a big step up from email—it’s physical, it gets business-critical mail where it needs to go, and shows that you took the time to send something real. And for most business mailings, it’s plenty and good enough.

But when you’re dealing with business-critical communication, where the stakes are high, timelines matter, or legal protection is a must, Certified Mail adds to the paper trail. The timestamps, the proof of sending, the receipts and the signature make all the difference when it comes to these types of mailings.

That’s the difference between “We sent it” and “We can prove it.”

There’s something powerful about receiving Certified Mail. It doesn’t just say “we sent this”—it says “this matters.”

Certified Mail Isn’t Just for Lawyers Anymore

To this day, Certified Mail is essential for lawyers. A lot of our customers are lawyers, and for good reason. But it’s expanding and becoming more common in other industries as well. Here’s where we see it the most (and keep in mind, it’s suitable for any and all industries in the end).

HOAs: sending annual meeting notices, fines, and certified compliance letters
Law firms: protecting themselves (and their clients) with documented delivery
Construction companies: mailing lien notices, pay apps, and change orders
Financial services: delivering statements and disclosures with proof

These are make-or-break communications, and no one wants to “hope the email went through” when dollars, deadlines, or disputes are involved.

You Don’t Have to Wait in Line to Send Certified Mail

Now here’s where it gets good: Certified Mail doesn’t have to be annoying anymore.

No more filling out paperwork. No more green cards. No more standing in line behind someone shipping a ton of documents at the Post Office, making your wait time even longer. No more typing in long tracking numbers to see where your Certified letter is.

You can send Certified Mail online in just a couple of minutes with LetterStream. You upload your documents, and we print it, stuff the Certified envelope, apply postage, mail it, and track it. You get the confirmation, and you can track it all from within your account. The recipient gets the message. No drama. No guessing. No “maybe they saw it.” Just the real kind of “read receipt.”

If It’s Important, Send It Certified Mail

If your future self needs proof, send it as Certified. If your company wants peace of mind, send Certified. If you’re tired of wondering whether something got there or not…you get the idea. Just send it as Certified Mail, plain and simple.

Why?

Because “I never got it” stops working the second you’ve got tracking, delivery confirmation, and a return receipt in hand or in our case an Electronic Return Receipt online.

And that folks, is something email just can’t do.

Need to send Certified Mail without the Post Office hassle?
We’ve got you. Learn more about how to send Certified Mail online here.

LetterStream offers bulk printing and mailing services, allowing companies to send physical mail online. Whether it’s online USPS Certified Mail, First-Class Mail, FedEx 2Day, or postcards, we give both small businesses and large corporations the time and freedom back to work on tasks that better serve the company. If you’re interested in creating a free account, you can do so here.

Here’s the Truth About Sending Certified Mail to a P.O. Box

You’d think mailing something to a P.O. Box, especially Certified Mail, would be simple, right? Just drop it off, USPS does their thing, the person picks it up, end of story.

But if you’ve ever tried tracking a Certified letter headed to a P.O. Box, you probably ran into a moment of “Wait… what is happening here?” Can I actually send Certified Mail to a PO Box?

We get this question a lot. So let’s break it down.

Yes, Certified Mail Goes to P.O. Boxes. No, It Doesn’t Work Quite the Same Way.

The short answer is yes, USPS does deliver Certified Mail to P.O. Boxes, but the process is a little different from delivering to someone’s front porch.

Instead of dropping it in the box like regular mail, USPS places a notice slip inside the recipient’s P.O. Box. That slip tells them they have a Certified Mail item waiting—and they need to come to the counter and sign for it. No signature, no delivery.

So while the address is technically correct and reachable, the final handoff still requires a human being to show up and sign.

Why Tracking Can Get Confusing

If you’re watching tracking updates like a hawk (understandable when deadlines or legal requirements are involved), here’s what you’ll see:

Delivered to Agent or Notice Left – This means the slip went into the P.O. Box. The mailpiece is sitting behind the counter waiting for pickup.
Awaiting Pickup – Still waiting on the recipient to sign for it.
Picked Up – Once they head to the post office and claim it.

This is where people get tripped up. That first scan—”Delivered to Agent”—is not the same as “Delivered to Recipient.” It just means the first step was completed. The accountability piece (that signature) is still pending.

What If They Never Pick It Up?

If the recipient never comes in to sign for it, USPS will make a few attempts and eventually return the letter to you as unclaimed. That’s one reason why time-sensitive Certified Mail (like legal notices or compliance documents) should be sent early enough to account for delays.

You can also request a Return Receipt or Electronic Return Receipt when sending Certified Mail to a P.O. Box—just know that it’ll only be returned once the item is picked up and signed for.

And Yes, Businesses Do This All the Time

Plenty of government agencies, law offices, HOAs, and medical providers send Certified Mail to P.O. Boxes. Some recipients even prefer it for privacy or convenience. The key is just knowing what to expect from the process and planning around the potential lag if the person doesn’t grab their mail daily.

If you’re sending Certified Mail through a platform like LetterStream, the tracking dashboard makes it a lot easier to monitor all this without having to constantly refresh USPS pages.

So, Can You Send Certified Mail to a P.O. Box?

Can you send Certified Mail to a P.O. Box? Absolutely. Just remember, it’s not quite “drop and done.” There’s a process. A signature. A wait. But it’s still one of the most trusted, accountable ways to send mail—especially when what you’re sending actually matters.

LetterStream offers bulk printing and mailing services, allowing companies to send physical mail online. Whether it’s online Certified Mail, First-Class Mail, FedEx 2Day, or postcards, we give both small businesses and large corporations that time and freedom back to work on tasks that better serve the company. If you’re interested in creating a free account, you can do so here.

Small Businesses Can Easily Save Time by Sending Mail Online

Running a Small Business? Here’s the Truth: You Don’t Have Time to Send Mail

I don’t know who needs to hear this; small business owners may be superheroes but they can’t do everything all the time. No matter how much they may want to.

Trust me, I’ve been there.

Every week, I talk to people juggling sales calls, fixing printers, answering customer emails, reviewing budgets, mailing invoices, basically just trying to run their business, sometimes all before lunch. The hustle is real, but the exhaustion is even more real.

And somewhere in the middle of all that, you’re also supposed to figure out how to scale?

It’s a lot! But there are some solutions that can help you manage, at least some of your tasks.

That’s where online platforms come in—not as some shiny tech trend, but as a legit way to give you your actual time back.

Let’s talk about that for a second.

You Don’t Have a Time Problem. You Have a “Too Much Stuff” Problem

The thing that eats up time isn’t usually one big project—it’s 37 tiny ones. Like printing and mailing letters one by one (I beg you, please stop doing this) or waiting to send out statements until “there are enough to make it worth the trip.”

I hear that one a lot.

But guess what? Waiting for mail to pile up can just get you behind. Not to mention the time, energy, and money it takes for supplies, postage, and gas to get your mail out.

This is one of those places where a good online platform changes the game. Especially if you use LetterStream (see what I did there?) You don’t need to wait. You don’t need a minimum. You just upload the file and poof—it’s mailed. Certified Mail with tracking, First-Class, FedEx 2Day, pretty much whatever you need mailed, we can make it happen.

There are no Post Office trips, no printer jams, and no awkward conversations with Cheryl in the office about whose turn it was to buy stamps.

You Don’t Need a Bigger Team—You Need Better Tools

If you’ve ever thought, “We’re just too small to outsource that,” I get it, and I hear you.

But it’s not about being “big enough.” It’s about being smart enough to say, “I shouldn’t be doing this by hand anymore.”

Mail is one of those sneaky things that seems manageable—until it’s not. Until you’re up late stuffing envelopes for a compliance deadline. Until the return address stamp runs dry or the postage meter isn’t working right. Until you realize you’ve spent a quarter of your week doing something that could’ve been automated.

That’s why we built our platform to feel like you’ve hired someone without actually hiring anyone. Literally, all you have to do is upload your documents, and we’ll handle the printing, stuffing, postage, and mailing. Like magic, but USPS-approved.

You Started This Business for a Reason. It Probably Wasn’t to Buy Envelopes

There are so many great platforms out there that save small businesses time when it comes to email marketing, accounting, scheduling…you name it.

But mail is still this weird gap no one talks about. It’s like the boring admin task that somehow still runs a huge part of your operations. And when it’s not done right—or not done at all—it can cause real problems.

We’re not here to fix everything. But if we can make mail one less thing you have to think about, that’s a win. And it’s a big win.

Because your best energy should go into growing your business, not folding paper and hunting down stamps.

You Deserve to Run a Business That Doesn’t Burn You Out

If you’re still mailing everything manually, ask yourself why.

Is it saving you money? Probably not.
Is it helping you scale? Definitely not.
Is it just what you’ve always done? Yeah… that’s usually it.

Let the old way go.

You don’t need to do it all. You just need to stop doing the parts that can be done for you.

And if mail is one of those parts? We’re here. No minimums. No stress. It’s that simple. Remember, small businesses don’t have to do it all and it usually doesn’t help them save money in the end either.

Curious what it looks like to never visit the Post Office again?
Start here: LetterStream.com

The Best Way to Send Construction Mail Is Online

Construction Projects Move Fast. Your Mail Should, Too.

Running a construction company means living in the land of blueprints, bids, and bottlenecks. One day you’re chasing a lien waiver, the next you’re tracking down a signed contract from a subcontractor who swears they “faxed it.” (Sure, they did.)

It’s a hands-on industry. But here’s the part that baffles me: so many construction businesses are still mailing things the old way—printing documents in-house, stuffing envelopes, licking stamps, and physically heading to the post office.

Sound familiar? If so, it’s time to rethink it. Especially when you can send Certified Mail online without ever leaving the job site.

The Problem with Mailing Lien Notices the Old-Fashioned Way

Construction companies deal with some of the most time-sensitive and legally critical mail out there. Think:

Construction lien notice mailings
Subcontractor agreements
Change orders
Compliance forms
Certificates of insurance
Waiver tracking
Final pay applications

Each of those could be the difference between getting paid or getting sued. So why gamble with missed deadlines or bad recordkeeping?

If you’re still relying on someone in the office to remember when lien letters are due—or worse, driving to the post office yourself—it’s not just inefficient, it’s risky. Lien deadlines don’t care if your admin is out sick or your copier is jammed.

Why It Pays to Send Certified Mail Online

You’re already outsourcing the things you don’t want your crew doing—like electrical, or HVAC, or asbestos abatement. Mailing should be no different.

With an online mailing service for business, here’s what changes:

You upload your notice or contract from your computer (or phone).
It gets printed, prepped, and mailed—Certified, First-Class, or however you need it.
You get digital proof it went out, and a record of everything.
You never touch an envelope or postage again.
You get your time back.

That means no more waiting at the Post Office counter (woohoo!) with green cards. No more hoping your lien notice didn’t get lost in the shuffle. No more “I think we mailed it?” drama.

Just uploaded. Done. Logged. Tracked.

Construction Companies That Outsource Mailing Stay on Track

Contractors who outsource mailing services tend to have one thing in common: they’ve stopped sweating the paperwork. Not because it’s any less important—but because they’ve systemized it.

Let your team build. Let the mailing experts mail. It’s really that simple.

Whether you’re mailing one Certified letter or 1,000 lien notices, it’s the same click-and-go process. That’s especially helpful if you’re running multiple projects across multiple states, with different deadlines and requirements.

Time is money—and also sanity.

The Bottom Line: Don’t Let Mail Delay the Build

Mail may not be what you think about when you’re quoting steel or managing a site walk, but it’s often the thing that can quietly derail your cash flow or compliance.

Sending certified mail online or mailing construction lien notices digitally isn’t just easier—it’s smarter business.

So the moral of the story is, stop stuffing envelopes. Stop chasing tracking numbers. And definitely stop driving to the Post Office when your boots are already caked in mud. Take yourself out to lunch instead.

There’s a better way to do this.

We’ll handle the mailing. You go build something.

HB1003: Certified Mail Requirements In Washington — What You Need to Know

Washington State Implements New Certified Mail Mandate for Landlords HB1003

When it comes to legal notices, certain pieces of mail can’t be left to chance. Across the country, USPS Certified Mail is often mandated by law to ensure delivery of sensitive, time-critical documents, giving senders proof that they mailed it, and proof that the recipient got it (or at least that an attempt was made).

Whether you’re dealing with eviction notices, contract terminations, court documents, or compliance communications, USPS Certified Mail provides that extra layer of accountability—something many industries are required to maintain by law.

Washington State’s HB1003: What Landlords Need to Know

A perfect illustration of these USPS Certified Mail requirements comes from Washington State. Beginning on July 27, 2025, House Bill 1003 (HB1003) introduces new mandates for landlords when serving termination notices to tenants.

Under the law, if a landlord can’t personally serve the tenant, they must:

Leave the notice with a person of suitable age and discretion at the premises, and
Send a copy via USPS Certified Mail, prepaid to the tenant’s last known address.

Oh—and the notice must include the specific date by which the tenant needs to comply or vacate.

Also, when serving notices by USPS Certified Mail, landlords must allow an additional five days for delivery (again, from within the state of Washington) before initiating an unlawful detainer action (a.k.a. eviction proceedings).

Who Does This Affect?

This isn’t just a heads-up for landlords. It’s a wake-up call for:

Property managers: Missing a deadline or serving a notice incorrectly could delay evictions and open the door to legal disputes.
Legal professionals: Ensuring proper service is now a legal minefield if you’re not factoring in mailing timelines and method-specific delays.
Real estate investors: Every day of delay can impact occupancy, cash flow, and ROI, especially when timing affects your ability to act.
Compliance teams: This law is just one example of how fast regulations can change, and if you’re not staying ahead, you’re already behind.

The USPS Certified Mail process is no longer just a “nice to have” — in many cases, it’s a compliance requirement. Not following it? That could mean legal delays or worse.

Where to Read the Full Bill – HB1003

If you want to review the official language of the legislation, you can find it directly on the Washington State Legislature’s site here: Washington State Legislature – HB 1003 Summary

Mailing Compliance: The Bigger Picture

As laws like HB1003 become more common, businesses across the U.S. need to keep up with changes in mailing compliance, especially for legal documents and time-sensitive communications. USPS Certified Mail remains one of the most trusted ways to ensure you’re doing things by the book.

So while Washington landlords need to pay close attention to where their Certified Mail is postmarked, most other industries and states can still take advantage of the speed and convenience of sending important mail, like Certified Mail, online. Click here to learn more.

LetterStream’s Online USPS Certified Mail

LetterStream^® is uniquely positioned to handle USPS Certified Mail with unmatched speed, accuracy, and reliability—thanks to our cloud-based platform, powered by a proprietary methodology, driven by the highest industry standards, and backed by decades of mail production expertise. Our advanced print automation ensures each certified USPS letter is processed with precision, while our Stream Process guarantees a consistent standard of excellence — visible in every envelope we send. With full tracking, archival of mailing records, and confirmation receipt accessibility, senders gain total confidence knowing their critical communications are managed, monitored, and documented from start to finish. Learn More.

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Stop Holding Onto Your Mail. Send It Out ASAP.

You know that stack of letters sitting on your desk? The ones you’re “waiting to send” until there are a few more to make it “worth it”? Yeah. That stack is not doing you—or anyone else—any favors.

Let’s talk about the myth that mailing more at once is better. Because honestly… It’s not, at least at LetterStream.

More Pieces Don’t Equal More Value

Somewhere along the way, a lot of folks got the idea that you should wait until you’ve got a big pile of letters before sending them out. Like it’s bulk trash day and you want to make it count.

We get the logic: maybe you’re hoping for a discount, or maybe batching just feels more efficient. But when it comes to important business mail—statements, notices, compliance letters, time-sensitive anything—that delay? It costs more than you think.

There’s no secret reward for holding onto mail like it’s fine wine. It doesn’t get better with age. There’s no “bulk magic” happening behind the scenes. The truth is: with the right system in place, sending one letter or 100 should feel exactly the same—easy, fast, handled.

And if you’re using a platform like ours, that’s exactly how it works.

Late Mail = Bigger Headaches

Here’s the part no one likes to admit: waiting to send mail can quietly wreck your timeline. Especially if you’re managing compliance deadlines, homeowner notices, invoices, or legal documents.

We’ve seen it too many times. A team waits to bundle everything up. They finally hit send. And by the time the mail lands, it’s already too close to the deadline—or worse, too late.

Then comes the damage control. The “we swear we sent it” emails. The callbacks. The fines. The escalations. And all because someone thought they’d get a gold star for waiting until they had a full stack.

You’re Not Saving Money by Waiting

Let’s be really clear: there’s no magical price break coming for your batch of 27 envelopes versus the 5 you had yesterday.

First-Class Mail rates are what they are. Certified Mail? Same deal. Whether you’re sending one or sending now, the cost per piece doesn’t drop just because you waited. And if you’re using a system that charges fairly for exactly what you send—no hidden minimums or batch penalties—you’re not getting some hidden bonus for holding back.

You’re just making your life harder.

Not Waiting Helps LetterStream, Too.

Here’s something else to consider—not just for you, but for the whole ecosystem.

When you wait and then drop a giant job all at once, it takes up one of our production machines for longer than necessary. That can slow down other jobs in the queue—yours included. When mail flows in more evenly, we’re able to keep things moving fast, clean, and on time for everyone.

It’s kind of like a highway: if everyone merges calmly, we’re all cruising. But when 500 cars try to get on the freeway at once, well… you’ve seen what happens.

So if your job is ready, go ahead and send it. It helps your own timeline—and makes the whole process smoother across the board.

Send It When You Have It

That’s our advice. Simple, but solid.

If you’ve got mail ready to go—send it. Don’t let it hang around your office. Don’t wait for a mystical “right time.” Don’t risk missing your deadline because you wanted to be more “efficient.”

We built our mailing platform to be ridiculously fast, no matter how many pieces you’re sending. Upload a PDF, click send, and it’s out the door. Whether it’s one notice or a thousand.

So go ahead—knock that letter off your list. The future you (and your clients, your board, your auditor, your accountant, and your sleep schedule) will thank you.

How to Get Your Invoices and Billing Statements Out Fast

You’ve done the hard part—you generated the invoice, reviewed the numbers, maybe even double-checked the due date. Gold star. But if it’s still sitting on a desk waiting to be printed, folded, and mailed? That money you’re owed is just… chilling, sitting there.

Let’s not pretend the envelope stuffers of the world are running ahead of schedule. If you want your payments to show up on time, your invoices and billing statements need to leave the building fast. Like same-day fast. And unless your business model includes licking envelopes and dodging paper cuts, you might want to rethink the way you’re sending your mail.

The Mailroom Bottleneck (a.k.a. The Silent Payment Killer)

Here’s what happens more often than we’d like to admit: an invoice gets finalized, then it disappears into the magical land of internal processes—where it sits in a queue behind 37 other “urgent” jobs. By the time it’s printed, stuffed, and dropped in the mailbox, you’ve missed your customer’s payment cycle, your team’s sending awkward follow-ups, and the cash flow dashboard is giving you side-eye.

It’s not about when the invoice was created—it’s about when it actually hits the mail.

And if you’re relying on someone to “get to it when they can,” that’s not a process. That’s a gamble.

Fast Mail = Fast(er) Payments

Let’s be real: snail mail is already doing its best and it’s not always great in terms of timing. Don’t make things worse by dragging your feet on the front end. When you send invoices and billing statements fast—like same-day or next-day fast—you increase your chances of:

Landing inside your customer’s check-run window
Getting paid without having to follow up three times
Looking like the organized, on-top-of-it business you are

Plus, it helps your customers stay on track too. Nobody likes getting a bill late and then feeling like they’re the one behind.

You Could Be Sending Mail Online… But You’re Still Folding Paper?

There’s something charming about a hand-stuffed envelope. But charming doesn’t pay the bills. If your team is spending hours printing and mailing statements, they’re not doing the things that actually grow your business.

This is why automated mailing solutions exist. You upload a file. They handle everything else. Printing, folding, inserting, postage, mailing—done. Whether it’s First-Class letters, Certified Mail, or even FedEx 2Day, it’s out the door without you lifting a finger.

And no, you don’t need to install anything.

Who Actually Needs Fast Mailing Services? (Spoiler: Probably You)

Let’s play a quick round of “Is this your business?”:

You send billing statements, invoices, or official notices on a regular basis?
You’ve got clients who still expect (or require) physical mail?
You’ve had at least one “Did we send that?” moment this year?
You’re tired of your billing cycle being held hostage by your printer?

If you said yes to even one, congrats—you’re exactly who fast print and mail services were made for.

And if you work in one of these industries, it’s pretty much a no-brainer:

Accounting and finance
HOAs and property management
Medical billing departments
Law firms and legal services
Utility companies
Local governments and special districts
Real estate
3rd Party Administrators
Education
Construction
Insurance

These are all real businesses with real mail that still needs to move—fast.

From PDF to Post Office Without the Drama

Imagine uploading a PDF and being done. That’s it. Your job’s in the queue, your mail’s going out within 2 business days at the latest, and your team is suddenly not buried in envelopes.

Imagine having:

A secure portal to upload your files
Mailing options that actually fit your needs
Real-time tracking so you know it’s been handled with Certified Mail tracking or FedEx 2Day tracking
One less thing clogging your calendar

Not to spoil it but you can absolutely have all of this when you use us…just saying.

Final Mail Thoughts

Getting invoices and billing statements out fast might not be the flashiest part of running a business, but it sure makes everything else run smoother. Your clients get their documents. Your payments show up when they should. And your staff stops hiding when the words “mail run” come up.

Want to stop sweating your outgoing mail? Visit us online and see how easy it is to send invoices online without the hassle, the mess, or the paper cuts.

LetterStream offers bulk printing and mailing services allowing companies to send physical mail online. Whether it’s online Certified Mail, First-Class Mail, FedEx 2Day, or postcards, we give both small businesses and large corporations that time and freedom back to work on tasks that better serve the company. If you’re interested in creating a free account, you can do so, here.

Certified Mail for Tax Time: Why Young Adults and Families Need to Get Serious About Sending Important Documents

Avoid Tax Time Trouble with Reliable Mailing Solutions from LetterStream

As tax season is upon us, young adults—and the parents who may still be helping them—are being urged to get ahead of filing deadlines and financial recordkeeping. A recent Wall Street Journal article emphasizes that many Gen Z taxpayers aren’t fully prepared for what it means to file taxes independently. Whether it’s mailing tax documents, keeping up with deadlines, or dealing with the IRS, the stakes are high—and missing paperwork could mean delays or penalties.

That’s where LetterStream comes in.

We specialize in printing and mailing services, including Certified Mail—a critical tool for anyone sending tax documents, legal notices, or time-sensitive communications. Our platform makes it simple, and everything is handled online, without a trip to the Post Office.

Why Certified Mail Still Matters—Especially for Taxes

Sending documents by Certified Mail is often recommended when dealing with government agencies like the IRS, as it provides a record of mailing and proof of delivery. Unfortunately, traditional green cards (Form 3811) are easy to lose, hard to track, and cumbersome to manage.

LetterStream eliminates that hassle with:

✅ Electronic Certified Mail receipts — Instantly available in your online account

✅ Long-term access — Our digital records outlast USPS retention windows

✅ No more green cards — Everything is tracked digitally with an Electronic Return Receipt (ERR) – add-on option

✅ Peace of mind — You’ll know exactly when your tax documents were sent and received

Whether you’re a parent helping your college-aged child file taxes for the first time, or a young professional navigating self-employment income, using Certified Mail online through LetterStream can help keep record of your filings.

Tax-Time Tips from the WSJ Article (and How LetterStream Helps)

The WSJ article offers smart guidance for young adults and families during tax season. Here are a few key takeaways—and how LetterStream supports them:

🧾 Tip 1: Keep Paperwork Organized

Save W-2s, 1099s, and proof of deductions.

How LetterStream Helps: Digitally send and archive documents via Certified Mail, knowing you’ll have easy access to mailing receipts and documents—even next year.

🧒 Tip 2: File for Dependents (Carefully)

Parents often mistakenly claim children who’ve already filed on their own.

How LetterStream Helps: Use Certified Mail to send statements or communications with legal or financial advisors—and have an electronic receipt so you know if a family member has already sent theirs.

💰 Tip 3: Report Side Income

Young adults with Venmo gigs, tutoring, or Etsy shops may need to report income they didn’t expect.

How LetterStream Helps: Submit forms or tax paperwork to your accountant or IRS with confidence—Certified Mail ensures it’s not “lost in the mail.”

When to Use Certified Mail for Taxes

You have different options when sending mail through the USPS, including First-Class Mail and Certified Mail, however, when it comes to taxes you may want to use Certified Mail for:

• Sending your tax return (if not e-filing)

• Notifying the IRS about an address change

• Responding to IRS letters or requests

• Mailing tax documents to accountants or attorneys

• Confirming delivery of supporting paperwork

Any time the date and sending of your documents matters, Certified Mail is a great option for tracking when it gets sent out and when it arrives—and LetterStream makes it effortless.

Why LetterStream Is the Smarter Way to Send Certified Mail

Instead of standing in line at the Post Office, fiddling with green cards, or losing track of receipts, you can handle it all with LetterStream.com, here’s how:

Sending Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt online with LetterStream

• Upload your PDF

• Choose Certified Mail (with or without Electronic Return Receipt)

• Check your proof

• Click send—we print, fold, insert, and mail it for you

• Easily track the status of your Certified Mail letter in your LetterStream account

Track Certified Mail online in your LetterStream account.

Your receipt and tracking are stored securely online. That’s one less thing to stress about this tax season.

Ready to Simplify Your Mailing Process?

Whether you’re a tax professional, parent, or first-time filer, LetterStream offers a fast and reliable way to handle Certified Mail—no printer, envelopes, or stamps required.

👉 Visit LetterStream.com to create your free account and start mailing smarter.

And if you want to dig into the tax tips for young adults, check out the full WSJ article here.

* Note: Check the website for actual delivery/send dates. This blog article is not meant as tax advice, but simply observation.

LetterStream offers bulk printing and mailing services allowing companies to send physical mail online. Whether it’s online Certified Mail, First-Class Mail, FedEx 2Day, or postcards, we give both small businesses and large corporations the time and freedom back to work on tasks that better serve the company. If you’re interested in creating a free account, you can do so, here.

LetterStream’s Q4 2024 Bonus Party: Game Show Battle Rooms Edition!

LetterStream believes in working hard and celebrating just as hard. Every quarter, we take time to recognize the incredible effort our team puts in to make sure our customers get the best printing and mailing services out there. This year, we turned up the energy for our Q4 2024 Bonus Party, taking over Game Show Battle Rooms in North Scottsdale for an unforgettable, laughter-filled showdown!

If you’ve been following our company culture (or have attended one of our legendary bonus parties in the past as an employee), you know that we don’t do dull corporate events. Instead, we go all-in—whether that means testing our detective skills in an escape room, racing as fast as we can in go-carts, or, in this case, stepping into the spotlight for some game show-style competition!

The Ultimate LetterStream Game Show Experience

Game Show Battle Rooms provided the perfect setting for our team to unleash their competitive side while reinforcing the teamwork that makes LetterStream thrive. Picture it: bright stage lights, buzzer-smashing excitement, and rounds of fast-paced trivia, wacky physical challenges, and high-energy games.

From classic game show-style challenges to creative team-building moments, every LetterStream team member got to showcase their quick thinking, problem-solving skills, and, of course, a little friendly trash talk. (All in good fun, of course!)

Winners, Laughs, and LetterStream Camaraderie

As always, LetterStream’s team spirit was on full display. Whether we were solving puzzles, testing reflexes, or facing off in head-to-head challenges, the real victory was in the camaraderie and teamwork that carried through every round. (Okay, and maybe a few bragging rights for our ultimate game show champions.)

Some highlights from the night included:

Epic team rivalries that had us on the edge of our seats
Hilarious reactions to surprise challenges
A victorious crew that walked away with ultimate bragging rights

At the end of the night, no matter which team had the most points, everyone walked away a winner—because a strong, united team is the best prize of all.

Why LetterStream Values Celebrating Wins

Quarterly bonus parties aren’t just about having a great time (though we definitely accomplish that!). They’re about recognizing hard work, strengthening our team, and fostering a company culture that values both excellence and fun.

Our mission at LetterStream is to provide outstanding printing and mailing services with speed and precision, but we know that our people are what make that possible. When we celebrate together, we build even stronger connections that fuel our success—inside and outside the office.

Looking Ahead to 2025 and Beyond

With the Q4 2024 Bonus Party in the books, we’re already looking ahead to another year of growth, innovation, and celebrating our team. If you’re a customer who loves working with us, just know that behind the scenes, we’re not just a company—we’re a community.

Here’s to another incredible year of teamwork, big wins, and (of course) even more fun along the way.

Want to Work with a Team That Loves What They Do?

LetterStream brings the same energy to our printing and mailing services as we do to our bonus parties—because excellence (and fun) is just part of who we are. Let us handle your mailing needs with the same precision and dedication that keeps our team thriving.

New to us and need help with your next big mailing project, sending bulk mail or just sending mail online in general? Learn how to send your first mailing, here.

LetterStream offers bulk printing and mailing services allowing companies to send physical mail online. Whether it’s online Certified Mail, First-Class Mail, FedEx 2Day, or postcards, we give both small businesses and large corporations the time and freedom back to work on tasks that better serve the company. If you’re interested in creating a free account, you can do so, here.

How to Take the Stress Out of Tax Season with Letterstream

Using LetterStream to send out tax documents makes tax season a breeze.

Tax season can be a logistical nightmare, especially when it comes to sending out time-sensitive documents like 1099s, W-2s, and IRS correspondence. Ensuring your tax forms are mailed accurately and on time is crucial to avoid penalties and keep everything running smoothly. That’s where LetterStream comes in—making tax season easier with secure, efficient mailing solutions.

Meeting Tax Deadlines with Ease

One of the biggest challenges of tax season is meeting strict IRS deadlines. Missing deadlines can lead to fines and compliance issues, but with LetterStream’s quick turnaround, you can easily upload tax documents for immediate processing, ensure on-time mailing with First-Class Mail and Certified Mail tracking options to confirm delivery. LetterStream also offers a way to expedite your mailing to get your tax documents out the door same-day or within one business day, in the event that you’re behind on getting them mailed.

Reducing Manual Work with Automated Mailing

Printing, folding, and stuffing tax documents manually can be a hassle—especially in bulk. LetterStream automates the process, handling everything from printing and envelope stuffing to applying postage and ensuring your mail is secure and sent out quickly. Simply upload your tax forms, and LetterStream takes care of the rest!

Ensuring Security & Compliance

Security is critical when mailing tax documents, as they contain sensitive information. LetterStream prioritizes data protection with secure handling that meets compliance standards, certified mail options for proof of delivery, and processing methods that align with IRS mailing requirements.

Flexible Mailing Options for Businesses & Individuals

Businesses and accountants handling bulk tax documents need adaptable solutions. LetterStream offers options for bulk mailing high-volume tax documents, Certified Mail for IRS correspondence, and priority mailing for urgent send outs, ensuring every tax-related mailing is managed efficiently.

Tracking Your Tax Mailings in Real Time

Concerned about lost tax forms? LetterStream provides Certified Mail with tracking, so you always know when your tax documents are mailed and delivered. With confirmation for each piece of mail, reduced risks of missing important tax documents, and timely updates for clients and employees, you gain complete peace of mind.

Simplify Tax Season Today

Tax season doesn’t have to be stressful. LetterStream is a hassle-free way to send tax documents securely, efficiently, and on time. Save time, reduce errors, and meet every IRS deadline with ease.

Get started with LetterStream’s Online Printing & Mail Services today!

LetterStream offers bulk printing and mailing services allowing companies to send physical mail online. Whether it’s online Certified Mail, First-Class Mail, FedEx 2Day, or postcards, we give both small businesses and large corporations that time and freedom back to work on tasks that better serve the company. If you’re interested in creating a free account, you can do so, here.