Uncle Sam needs to be aware of your most recent address to be able to send you vital correspondence and your refund check. The IRS has many options with which taxpayers could notify the agency of any recent change of address.
Taxpayers need to be aware that changing an address can take as much as six weeks. This makes it essential to commence the process in time to avoid delays with the refund.
Change Your Address on the Tax Return
If you have yet to file your tax return and your address changes, all you need to do is change the address on your new tax return. It will prompt the IRS to update your new address when they get it on the return. Taxpayers that file electronically should watch out as the old address might be carried over automatically to the new form.
Inform the Post Office
For people who had a change of address after filing their return, it is essential to file a change of address form with the IRS. However, a word of warning is that some post offices hardly send a taxpayer's refund check to a new address because of fraud.
As a result, people expecting their refunds need to take the extra step to ensure the check gets to their mailbox.
Using IRS Form 8822 – IRS Change of Address Form
IRS Form 8822 allows taxpayers to change their address directly with the agency. Businesses will need 8822B to change their address.
Using any of these forms, one will have to give necessary information like the old and new addresses. The form can also allow one to change the spouse's address.
On the form, there are various mailing addresses that will depend on where you are based.
Written Statement
One can also provide Uncle Sam with information on the current address change by sending a written statement. The statement will contain the same information that is available on IRS Form 8822.
The full name
The old address
The new address
Your TIN (Tax Identification Number) or SSN (Social Security Number)
Your signature
Joint filers should provide information for their spouse as well as their signature. For the spouse that is divorced already, each party needs to inform Uncle Sam of the separation separately.
Electronic Notification
One can also notify Uncle Sam of any address change electronically under some circumstances. There is a "Where’s My Refund” section on Uncle Sam's website where they can adjust the address for people whose refund check was returned to the IRS.
This gives taxpayers the opportunity to change their address online even though some information will be required to checkmate fraud, like the refund amount.
Conclusion
Not updating your recent mailing address with Uncle Sam might have some consequences, especially if Uncle Sam needs to get you some documents that are time-sensitive.
The law requires that if you will get anything from Uncle Sam, it will be mailed to the last address available with them.
As a result, Uncle Sam will not give you extra time to respond to any letter requesting additional tax payment as an example, all because you did not update your mailing address when you changed your location.
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