Generally, every taxpayer must provide for accurate and true information in their tax returns for the reason of convenience and efficiency. In the United States, Internal Revenue Service is the agency tasked for collection and enforcement of the Internal Revenue Code. Taxpayer's address will be a big factor in determining their identity and their respective liabilities.
The address of the taxpayer that appears on the recently filed and properly processed Federal tax return shall be his or her last known address unless the IRS is given a clear and concise notification of different addresses and it must be properly processed. The IRS will update taxpayer's addresses maintained in the IRS records by referring to data accumulated and maintained in the United States Postal Address database that retains change of address information for thirty-six months. The taxpayer's name and last known address in the IRS records must be matched with the taxpayer's old name and mailing address in the United States Postal Address database unless IRS is given a notification of a different address. The change of address request will take four to six weeks to fully process.
When the taxpayer's address has changed, you need to notify the IRS to ensure you receive any IRS tax refunds or correspondence. IRS will mail correspondence to your last known address, it fulfills IRS’ legal notification requirements and any repercussions as a result of your lack of response become your responsibility, even if you never received the notice. Therefore, it is a good practice to promptly notify the IRS of an address change. If you fail to file the change of address, it will delay the tax refund from reaching you.
Here are some ways to notify the IRS of an address change:
● Through Filing Your Tax Return
The taxpayer may change their address before filing the tax return. He or she must enter the new address on the return when filing. When return is processed, IRS will update the records. When hiring a tax preparer, be sure to notify them.
When the last tax return was filed and few months after you moved to another place, you need to use the current address when you file your taxes. If you are filing a prior year tax return, and the address was different during that tax year, you still need to include your current address, so IRS can contact you regarding that tax return in the future. Every time you move, you should also change your address online and have your mail forwarded to your new address at the USPS Official Change of Address Form.
● Notifying the Post Office
The taxpayer should notify the post office that services your old address when you change your address after filing your tax return. Notifying the post office that services your old address to make sure that your mail will be forwarded to your new address, not necessarily your refund check because of not all post offices forward government checks.
If the post office does not deliver mail to your street address, show your P.O. box number instead of your street address.
● By Form
The IRS recommends contacting them every time you change your address. For a change of address, you can file an IRS Form 8822 (For Individual, Gift, Estate, or Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Returns) or download the form 8822 in PDF file format online to submit a name or address change at any time during the year. For Change of Address or Responsible Party — Business, you need to complete Form 8822-B or download and print the fillable Forms 8822 and 8822-B or order them by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).
If the change will affect the mailing address for your children who filed income tax returns, you also need to complete and file a separate Form 8822 for each child.
● In Writing
Sending a letter to IRS is also an alternative in informing them your address change. If you write, IRS needs your:
For joint filers, you should provide the information and signatures for both spouses. Send your written address change information to the campus addresses listed in the instructions to the tax forms you filed.
For taxpayers got separated, you need to write your separate residences, each of them should notify IRS of their new and separate addresses.
