First time filing taxes as a student - which address should I use on my return?

This is actually a common question for college students! The address you use on your tax return should be your "permanent address" - the place you consider your main home. For most students, this is typically your parents' address, especially if you only live in the dorm temporarily during the school year. Even though your W-2 has your dorm address, that's just where your employer sent your tax document. The address on your tax return is more about where you officially reside, receive mail consistently, and maintain your primary residence. Using your family home address makes sense if that's where you return during breaks and consider your permanent home. That said, if you've actually established residency in your college state (got a driver's license there, registered to vote there, etc.), you might consider using that address instead.

When I was dealing with this exact situation last year, I found this awesome tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped clear up my confusion around student tax filing. I was stressing about the same address issue and wasn't sure if I should be filing as dependent or independent. I uploaded my W-2 and answered a few questions, and it analyzed everything and gave me clear guidance specific to my student situation. It explained that my permanent address (parents' home) was the right one to use even though my W-2 had my dorm address, and walked me through why that was the better choice for my specific situation.

Just wanted to update - I actually tried taxr.ai after my skeptical comment. Super surprised how helpful it was for my NY/CA situation! It explained that I needed to file a nonresident return for NY for my campus job income, and then file my resident return in California. Even pointed out that California would give me credit for taxes paid to NY so I wouldn't be double-taxed. Way clearer explanation than what my parents' accountant told me last year. It also confirmed I should use my parents' CA address as my permanent address since that's where I'm still legally a resident. Saved me a ton of confusion!

If you run into issues with the IRS after filing (which can happen with first-time filers), I recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). When I filed as a student for the first time last year, the IRS flagged my return because I made a mistake with education credits. Tried calling the IRS for WEEKS and could never get through. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes after I'd wasted days trying to call directly. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent helped me correct my education credit mistake and explained exactly what documentation I needed to submit. Seriously saved my refund!

Came back to say I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After failing again to reach the IRS about my missing refund (3 months and counting), I tried it out of desperation. The service actually got me through to an IRS agent in about 40 minutes. The agent confirmed there was a flag on my account because I had both a W-2 and 1098-T (tuition statement) and they needed to verify my education expenses. I was able to fix everything right there on the call. My refund is now scheduled to arrive next week! This would have been so useful when I was filing for the first time last year.

As someone who's worked in a university financial aid office, here's my advice: use your permanent home address (parents' house). The reason is that most students are still dependents on their parents' taxes, and having matching addresses makes things cleaner. Plus, dorm addresses change yearly for most students, and you don't want tax notices going to a dorm room you no longer live in months later.

Just make sure if you use your parents address that you and your parents are clear about whether they're claiming you as a dependent! That tripped me up my first time. My parents claimed me (correctly) but I also checked the box saying nobody could claim me as a dependent. Got a letter from the IRS and had to amend my return.

Great question! I went through this same confusion when I was a student. Definitely use your parents' home address as your permanent address on your tax return. Even though your W-2 shows your dorm address, that's just where your employer sent the form - it doesn't determine what address you should use for filing. The key thing is that your permanent address should be where you consider your main residence and where you'd want important tax correspondence to be sent. Since you go home during breaks and summers, that's clearly your permanent address. Plus, if you're still a dependent on your parents' taxes (which most college students are), having the same address keeps everything consistent. One heads up though - make sure you and your parents are on the same page about whether they're claiming you as a dependent! That's a common mistake that can cause delays with the IRS. If they provide more than half your support and you're under 24 as a full-time student, they can usually claim you, which means you can't check the box saying no one can claim you as a dependent. Good luck with your first tax filing - you've got this!

This is such a common source of confusion for new student filers! You're definitely on the right track thinking about this carefully. I'd echo what others have said - use your parents' home address as your permanent address on your tax return, even though your W-2 shows the dorm address. The way I like to think about it is: where would you want the IRS to send you important mail six months from now? Probably not to a dorm room you might not be living in anymore! Your parents' address is your stable, permanent residence where you can reliably receive correspondence. Also, since this is your first time filing, double-check with your parents about the dependent status situation that others mentioned. If they're claiming you as a dependent (which they probably should if they're paying for school and providing more than half your support), make sure you don't accidentally check the box saying you can't be claimed as a dependent. That's one of the most common mistakes first-time student filers make. You're being smart by thinking this through carefully - shows you're taking it seriously! The IRS definitely understands that students have temporary school addresses, so don't worry too much about the W-2 address not matching your return address.

Adding to all the great advice here - I made this exact same mistake my freshman year! I used my dorm address because I thought it had to match my W-2, and it caused some confusion later when the IRS sent correspondence to my old dorm room that I'd already moved out of. Definitely go with your parents' home address as your permanent address. The IRS expects temporary addresses for students and won't flag the mismatch between your W-2 and tax return addresses. What matters is having a stable address where you can receive important tax documents and notices. One practical tip: if you do need to correspond with the IRS later (hopefully not!), having your parents' address on file means they can help you keep track of any mail that comes in, especially during summer break or if you're studying abroad. Much better than trying to coordinate with whatever random person ends up in your old dorm room! You're being really smart to think this through carefully for your first filing. Shows you're taking it seriously, which is exactly the right approach!

This thread has been so helpful! As another first-time student filer, I was having the exact same worries about the address situation. It's really reassuring to see that so many people have gone through this and that the IRS totally understands student situations. One thing I'm curious about - for those who used their parents' address, did you have any issues when you eventually moved out permanently after graduation? Like, do you need to notify the IRS when you change your permanent address, or does it just naturally update when you file from your new address the following year? Also, I keep seeing people mention coordination with parents about dependent status. Is there like a specific conversation I should have with them, or is it pretty straightforward if they're still supporting me financially? I don't want to assume anything and end up in that situation where we both claim the wrong thing! Thanks everyone for making this way less scary than I thought it would be. First-time adulting is nerve-wracking but this community is awesome! 🙂

Hey! I just went through this exact same situation last semester and totally understand the confusion. You're absolutely right to use your parents' home address as your permanent address on your tax return, even though your W-2 shows your dorm address. The IRS completely understands that students have temporary school addresses, so there won't be any issues with the mismatch. What matters is using the address where you'd want to receive important tax correspondence - and since you live with your parents during breaks and consider that home, it's definitely your permanent address. One thing that really helped me was thinking about it this way: where would I want tax notices or refund checks to go six months from now? Definitely not to a dorm room I might not even be living in anymore! Just make sure to coordinate with your parents about whether they're claiming you as a dependent (they probably are if they're helping pay for school). That's where a lot of first-time student filers run into trouble - make sure you're both on the same page about that dependency status so you don't contradict each other on your returns. You're being really smart by asking these questions upfront. Good luck with your first tax filing - you've got this! 🎓

As a tax professional who's helped many students navigate this exact situation, I want to reassure you that you're asking all the right questions! Use your parents' home address as your permanent address on your tax return - this is definitely the correct approach even with the W-2 showing your dorm address. The IRS receives millions of student tax returns every year with this same "mismatch" and it's completely normal. They understand that students have temporary school addresses while maintaining their permanent residence elsewhere. Your permanent address should be where you maintain your primary ties - voter registration, driver's license, bank accounts, and where you return during breaks. A few key points for first-time student filers: 1. **Dependency status coordination**: This is crucial! Have a clear conversation with your parents about whether they're claiming you. If they provide more than half your support and you're under 24 as a full-time student, they likely can and should claim you. 2. **State tax considerations**: Since you mentioned this is your first time filing, remember that you may need to file state returns in both your home state and school state if you earned income at school. Each state has different rules. 3. **Keep copies at your permanent address**: Store your tax documents at your parents' house, not your dorm. You'll need them for future reference and financial aid applications. You're being incredibly responsible by researching this thoroughly. That attention to detail will serve you well in your tax-filing journey!