Toad, you should file electronically and have the IRS take the money out of your checking account. Easy to set up and the information can be used year after year. No check to write and no stamp or envelope. And when I did the IRS investment that was just a call to the bank's investment section and they will deposit the money in your checking account into your IRA. Again no check or envelope and stamp. You should look into putting some IRA money into an Annuity, they are guaranteed and earn higher than a IRA in cd or money markets.