How long does it take Uncle Sam to cash a fat check?

[sistawendy]

I know the answer to the question in the subject: no more than two days, and possibly only one. The accounts receivable department, or whatever it's called, of the IRS must be the most efficient organization in the entire US government.

I mailed a four-figure back tax payment on the 7th to Ogden, UT via the usual first class mail. It was cashed on the 11th. There's no way it took fewer than two days to get there.

Comments

[randomdreams]

I am guessing it's completely automated: the envelope gets run through a mechanical slitter, the guts extracted, it's recognized as a check, and it's photocopied and an EFT initiated. There might be a person after the slitting machine to sort out personal correspondence but I bet there isn't.

[sistawendy]

I did include the form that says, "Yes, I'm going to pay you, you goons." Plus, they ask for your SSN and case number on the check. (Was there some third thing? I forget.) My guess is that the contents of my envelope were touched by a highly caffeinated human at some point along the journey.