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Albany County officials are attributing the delivery of opened or damaged W-2 forms to a mishap by the United States Postal Service (USPS). Over the weekend, multiple county employees received their tax documents in compromised conditions, raising concerns about potential identity theft. According to a county spokesperson, the issue likely stemmed from a mail sorting machine malfunction.
Mary Rozak, director of communications for the Office of the Albany County Executive, stated that the county is committed to assisting affected employees. The county's Human Resources Department has advised employees to request new W-2 forms via email if needed.
Mark Lawrence, a USPS spokesman, explained that the problem occurred due to insufficient glue, perforations, or paper quality during high-speed sorting. He acknowledged the issue and apologized to those impacted, emphasizing the importance of mail to customers. The USPS is working with mailing industry representatives to prevent future incidents and has informed the sender of the issue.
The county is taking steps to ensure that employees receive their tax documents securely and promptly. Lawrence added that the Postal Service is committed to delivering all mail pieces, including unsealed letters, as quickly as possible.