<p>Many of us will have to snail mail signed copies of our tax forms either to IDOC or directly to schools. </p>
<p>Background:
Last year I sent my IDOC package certified mail. This slows things down because it has to be signed for. In our case, signing for it fell through the cracks in any case. There were several weeks where we didn't know where this envelope, containing our entire family's SSNs, was. It turns out IDOC had it (but had not signed for it and USPS did not know where it was) and was just very very backed up checking things in (so there was no sign of it being marked received on my son's account). After multiple phone calls to IDOC and the school (thank goodness, I was only sending stuff for a returning student last year, so only ONE school to coordinate with) they finally told us we should re-send. Both packets were ultimately marked received the same day.</p>
<p>So... after all that we got the feeling that sending it certified (which I did both times) just slows it down, and doesn't actually make it any less likely to be lost.</p>
<p>Registered mail costs a lot more. It is intended for items with monetary value, which I'm not sure really applies. I believe it slows things down more. However, since there is a monetary value attached that the USPS is responsible for, it is less likely to be lost. </p>
<p>Or... are we best off just sticking it in a regular or priority envelope with USPS tracking? (It seems like that would be as good as Certified -- I don't really get any benefit out of them having to sign for it.)</p>
<p>So... is there a method short of registered mail that makes sense for sending something you really don't want being lost in the mail, but doesn't have a high monetary value?</p>
<p>The USPS Priority service with Delivery Confirmation is great for many types of packages, but in my experience, I prefer using FedEx and UPS for any financial documents because I prefer to use Express with tracking. USPS offers Express, but their Express overnight is not always overnight, and they will leave the packages without getting signatures if they can (at least in my experience.)</p>
<p>For financial documents, I want to be able to track every move and get that signature, and be able to rely on the delivery date. FedEx and UPS offer a better service, though I know both are much more expensive.</p>
<p>With either FedEx Delivery Manager or UPS My Choice (both services are free to sign up), I can track everything. Using those particular services, I always get emails informing me about unexpected packages, too, so I know ahead of time and can change the delivery location, or have them hold the packages, etc. Both services were extremely useful when handling mortgage and tax documents, sending docs back and forth to the banks, etc.</p>
<p>With all of the ID theft, too, I just prefer the other services (and, I really don’t work for either company :)</p>
<p>I seem to recall that the IDOC mailing address may be a PO Box, which limits one to USPS options (and also slows down a package requiring a signature).</p>
<p>You can send something requiring a signature to a PO Box. They will get a little card in the box that says they have to come to the desk to sign for something. </p>
<p>But you can’t send Fedex or UPS, because they’re not allowed to deliver to PO Boxes. Some places will give you the street address to use if you want to send Fedex/UPS, but IIRC IDOC will not.</p>