Handling IRS Mail at Anytime Mailbox: Open & Scan, Checking Two Letters, and Retaining Originals#

At a glance: When IRS letters arrive at your Anytime Mailbox, submit an Open and Scan request if you want to inspect the contents and authorize opening. This guide explains scanning steps, handling incomplete scans, checking notice numbers and due dates separately, and managing storage fees and forwarding.

IRS Mail Arrived: Inspect the Envelope or Request a Scan?#

When an envelope from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) appears in your Anytime Mailbox inbox, clarify your objective first. If you need to see the contents right away and are comfortable authorizing the mail facility to open the envelope, submit an Open and Scan request in your portal. If a receiving institution or tax advisor requires unopened physical documents, verify their requirements before taking action—never request shredding or disposal without knowing what is inside.

On October 19, 2026, user Fox (@jhdxhl) posted on X asking whether to request open-and-scan after receiving IRS letters at Anytime Mailbox and why two letters arrived at the same time. Online threads often contain guesses about specific letter types, but tax records vary by individual. We do not adopt those guesses or speculate on what action the author took. Handling formal tax notices always starts with methodical verification under official procedures.

How to Request Open and Scan on Anytime Mailbox#

Submitting an open-and-scan request on Anytime Mailbox follows a standard workflow documented in the official guide Open and Scan Mail:

1. Go to your account Inbox and select the check box next to the IRS mail item.
2. Click the Actions menu at the top.
3. Select Open and Scan, then click Submit to confirm.
4. Once the mail center finishes scanning, you will receive an email notification. Open the item details in your portal to use Print or Download to save the PDF.

After downloading, check that all pages are legible. If pages are missing, cut off, or scanned single-sided by mistake, official guidance notes that you can contact the mail center to request a rescan. If a notice carries an impending deadline, the official help center suggests contacting your mail center directly to ask about turnaround; remember that requesting a scan does not automatically extend any IRS deadline.

In addition, scanned tax notices contain sensitive personal details. Store downloaded files securely and do not assume the platform automatically redacts private records. When managing or transmitting files, keep your tax identification number, full name, address, and barcodes protected.

Received Two Letters? Check Notice Numbers and Due Dates Separately#

If two IRS letters arrive at once, avoid guessing what each one contains. The underlying reasons cannot be deduced from the envelope alone and must be verified by opening and inspecting each notice individually.

According to official IRS guidance in Understanding Your IRS Notice or Letter:

• Locate the specific CP notice or LTR number printed in the top right corner of each letter.
• Review the text against official guidance to identify the tax issue and applicable tax year.
• Note any response due date stated in the letter, and record it on your calendar.
• Keep thorough records of each item. An open-and-scan request simply allows you to read the letter; submitting a scan does not count as a response to the IRS or extend official deadlines.

For authenticity checks, the IRS advised in a July 8, 2025 IRS Tax Tip that taxpayers should verify notices against their official IRS online account, official notice search resources, or direct IRS customer service lines. The IRS points out that only some notices are available in online accounts, so not finding an online record is not proof that a letter is fraudulent. If you cannot determine the required steps from the notice number and official materials, reach out directly to the IRS or consult a qualified tax professional.

What to Do with Physical Mail: Storage Fees and Forwarding#

Managing physical mail after downloading your scan is easy to overlook. According to official policy on Storage Fees, scanning mail does not terminate physical storage fees. Each location and plan includes a set amount of complimentary storage days. Once that window passes, ongoing storage fees apply as long as the physical mail remains on the shelf.

Whether you should retain physical copies depends on your specific requirements; confirm this with your receiving institution or a qualified tax professional rather than assuming a digital copy can replace the original:

1. Forwarding Originals: If you need the physical paperwork delivered to you, follow the official instructions in How to Request a Quote for Mail Forwarding. First, add your forwarding address under account settings. In your Inbox, select the item and click Actions → Forward → Request Quote. Once the mail center generates the shipping estimate, it will appear under Action Required for your approval before packing begins. International shipments require a truthful declared value for customs.
2. Final Handling Under Location Rules: If you determine that physical copies are not needed, arrange final handling (such as requesting document shredding) in accordance with your location's rules to avoid ongoing storage charges.

Are Plan Limits Enough, and Do You Need to Upgrade?#

Receiving one or two important letters does not mean you need to upgrade your mailbox plan. If you already have an active mailbox, check your remaining monthly scan page allowance in your portal first.

Anytime Mailbox pricing and service inclusions are set by individual mail center operators. You can inspect exact details under "Select Plan" using the Full Details link. As an example, the monthly rates at the Anaheim, 2054 S. Euclid St location (checked November 3, 2026) are:

At this location, shipping bundle handling is $5 per bundle, separate from postage. If the page count exceeds your plan's included allowance, the mail center charges an overage rate per additional page. Whether upgrading makes sense depends on the exact page count you need to scan this month, the location's per-page overage fee, and your expected ongoing mail volume. Check your total expected overage costs against the monthly price difference before deciding—there is no need to upgrade automatically if an existing plan already covers your basic needs. For complete mailbox setup instructions, see the Anytime Mailbox Tutorial and First Month Cost Breakdown; to explore and compare more locations, visit the Address Directory.