Filed my tax return with an outdated address - what do I need to do now?

You don't need to amend your tax return just for an address change. The IRS Form 8822 (Change of Address) is what you want to file. This form is specifically for updating your address with the IRS after you've filed. Since you've moved twice, you only need to file one Form 8822 with your most current address. The IRS only cares about where to contact you now, not the history of where you've lived. Your W2 address doesn't really matter for this purpose - the IRS just needs to know where to send any correspondence or your refund check (if you didn't do direct deposit). If you're expecting a refund and provided direct deposit information, the address issue is less urgent, but you should still update it so you receive any notices or letters the IRS might send.

I went through something similar last year and discovered taxr.ai which was honestly a lifesaver. I was freaking out about my address issue because I had moved twice during the tax year, and wasn't sure if I needed to amend or what forms to file. Their AI actually analyzed my situation and gave me step-by-step instructions for exactly what I needed to do. Check them out at https://taxr.ai - you just upload your documents and it breaks down your options clearly. The system confirmed I only needed to file the 8822 form once with my most current address, and even pre-filled some of the form information based on my details.

Just wanted to update - I was skeptical about taxr.ai but decided to try it after continuing to stress about my address situation. It actually saved me from making a mistake! I was about to file an amended return (which would have been a huge waste of time) when the system analyzed my documents and confirmed I only needed the 8822 form. It even pointed out that since I had moved to a different state briefly, there were some specific considerations for state tax purposes that I hadn't thought about. The breakdown was super clear and saved me a ton of research and worry.

If you need to contact the IRS about this (which you probably should), I'd recommend using Claimyr to get through to them quickly. I spent HOURS trying to reach someone at the IRS about my address change situation last year - kept getting disconnected or waiting forever. With Claimyr (https://claimyr.com), I got through to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes who confirmed exactly what I needed to do. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent explained that since my refund was already processing with my old address, I needed to also contact USPS for mail forwarding in addition to the Form 8822.

Well I'm eating my hat now. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try Claimyr anyway since I was desperate to resolve my own address mess with the IRS. Got connected to an agent in about 15 minutes! The agent confirmed that I only needed to file Form 8822 once with my current address, and also recommended I set up mail forwarding with USPS as a backup. They also checked on my refund status while I had them on the phone and gave me an update I'd been trying to get for weeks. Honestly worth it just to avoid the hours of frustrating hold music and disconnections.

One thing nobody's mentioned - if you're getting a refund and selected direct deposit, the address issue is way less urgent. The IRS will deposit your refund directly regardless of what address is on file. The address mainly matters for any physical mail they might send you like notices or letters.

Quick tip - make sure you're also changing your address with your state tax authority if applicable! Everyone always remembers the IRS but forgets that states have their own separate systems. Each state has their own version of a change of address form.

Thanks everyone for the detailed advice! This has been incredibly helpful. I was definitely overthinking the situation and was about to go down the rabbit hole of amending my entire return. It's reassuring to know that Form 8822 is all I need and that the W2 address discrepancy isn't an issue. Since I did select direct deposit, I feel much better knowing my refund should come through regardless. I'll file the 8822 with my current address and also set up mail forwarding with USPS as a backup like several people suggested. For anyone else in a similar situation - sounds like this is way more common than I thought and much easier to fix than it initially seems!

Just to add one more perspective - I work as a tax preparer and see this situation constantly. You're absolutely doing the right thing by filing Form 8822 rather than amending. The IRS gets thousands of address changes daily and it's a routine process for them. One thing I always tell my clients is to keep a copy of the Form 8822 for your records and consider sending it certified mail if you're worried about timing. The IRS website also has a "Where's My Refund" tool that can help you track your refund status even during the address change process. Also, since you mentioned you only made $28k last year, your return is likely very straightforward and unlikely to trigger any additional correspondence from the IRS anyway. Address changes are much more critical for people with complex returns or those who might face audits.

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now! Filed my return with my old address from 2023, but I've actually moved three times since then. Reading through all these responses has been so helpful - I was also convinced I'd have to amend my entire return and was dreading the paperwork nightmare. The clarification about only needing one Form 8822 with your current address is huge. I was wondering if I'd need to file multiple forms for each move, which seemed overwhelming. Also really appreciate the tip about state taxes - I moved from California to Texas, so I need to make sure I update my address with California's tax authority too since they'll probably have correspondence about my final year as a resident. One question for anyone who's been through this - if you've moved across state lines multiple times during the tax year, does that complicate the Form 8822 process at all, or is it still just as straightforward as filing it with your current address?

Moving multiple times during a tax year is definitely stressful, but you're on the right track! Just to add to what others have said - when you file Form 8822, make sure to check the box indicating this is for "income tax purposes" since there are different boxes for different types of tax updates. Since you mentioned moving from CA to TX, definitely prioritize getting your address updated with California FTB quickly. They're notorious for sending important notices about final returns and partial-year residency determinations, and missing those deadlines can be costly. California also has a specific form (FTB 3546) for address changes that's separate from the federal Form 8822. The good news is that Texas having no state income tax eliminates half the complexity of your situation. Just focus on the federal Form 8822 and the California address update, and you should be all set. Don't let the multiple moves stress you out - the IRS and state agencies deal with this constantly!