Stimulus Check and a change of address...?

Question

Quick run-down. We filed a change of address with the Post Office, but did not get a chance to file a change of address with the irs. The old address is my husbands mothers house(where our mail was going while in the process of moving to another state). They received the letter for us stating what we were getting/when we are expecting to receive it. Everyone's saying they don't forward federal mail.

What do you think will happen? Do you think the check will show up at the previous address, or do you think the post office will snag it and send it back to the gov't?

Thanks,

Jennie

Answer 1

The post office *is* allowed to forward government checks.  This changed a number of years ago.

Individual postmen don't seem to have heard about the change and they frequently return the check to the IRS.  The IRS gets the COAs from the post office and *if* they can match the address change to you will post it to your account and resend the check.  However, the post office COA doesn't require you to enter your SSN or be careful entering your exact legal name as it's on your SSN, so the data may not match up.  When the IRS doesn't have your address, but does have your check, they will wait until you contact them (send form 8822 if you don't want to call) before reissuing the money.

If you never contact them, the IRS will use the address on next year's tax return.

Answer 2

They do forward all the mail including federal mail.

If you change your address after filing your return, you should notify your post office that services your old address. This ensures your mail will be forwarded (not all post offices forward government checks).

Complete a Form 8822, Address Change Request, to change your address with the IRS.

For articles on your U.S. tax return, http://taxipay.blogspot.com/2008/04/list...