Form 3531 Received - Need Help with Address Update and Missing Signature

This is a common issue with paper returns. The IRS is basically saying they can't process your return as-is and need these corrections before they can move forward. For the signature issue, it's possible your signature wasn't dark enough to be scanned properly, or you might have signed in the wrong color ink (they prefer blue or black). Sometimes the signature area gets smudged during mailing or processing. For the address update - this makes perfect sense actually. The IRS wants your CURRENT address on file for this return so they know where to send any correspondence or your refund check (if applicable). Even though you updated your address online, they still need it updated on this specific tax return they're processing. What you should do: Complete Form 3531 by signing where indicated and writing your current address. Return it with the original documents they sent back to you. Use the envelope they provided if possible. This won't count as a late filing - your original submission date is maintained. You're just correcting information on an already-filed return.

I went through this exact same situation last year! After weeks of stress, I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that helped me figure out exactly what I needed to do with my Form 3531. They have this document analysis tool that reviews your tax forms and tells you exactly what's wrong and how to fix it. For me, it turned out I had signed in the right place, but my signature was too light for their scanners to pick up. And the address update was needed because they couldn't process my return without my current address on file. The taxr.ai system highlighted exactly which fields needed fixing and gave me step-by-step instructions. Seriously saved me so much confusion and potential mistakes. Might be worth checking out since they specialize in sorting through IRS notices like this.

Just wanted to follow up - I decided to try taxr.ai from the suggestion above and it was actually super helpful! I uploaded my Form 3531 and tax return, and they highlighted exactly where I needed to sign and which form needed my updated address. Turns out I had signed in pencil (facepalm) which doesn't scan well, and I needed to update my address on the 1040 form itself. Their instructions were super clear and I sent everything back yesterday. The whole process took me like 30 minutes once I knew what I was doing. Definitely saved me from making more mistakes!

If you're struggling to get through to the IRS to ask about this Form 3531 situation, I'd recommend trying Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in a similar situation last tax season with a different form issue, and after waiting on hold for HOURS with the IRS multiple days in a row, I finally found Claimyr. They basically hold your place in the IRS phone queue and call you back when an agent is about to answer. You can see how it works in this demo: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was super skeptical at first, but it actually worked! I got a call back in about 90 minutes with an IRS agent ready to talk. The agent explained exactly what I needed to do with my forms and I got everything sorted out in one call. Way better than wasting entire days on hold.

I want to apologize for my skeptical comment earlier about Claimyr. I was frustrated after dealing with IRS issues and was being cynical about everything. After getting desperate with my own Form 3531 situation, I actually tried the service yesterday. I'm shocked to admit it worked EXACTLY as described. I got a call back in about 2 hours with an actual IRS representative on the line. They explained that my signature issue was because I had signed in red ink (apparently that doesn't scan well) and confirmed I just needed to sign the Form 3531 in black ink and include my current address. The agent also told me this won't count as filing late - my original submission date is preserved. Honestly, that 15-minute call saved me so much stress and guesswork. So yeah... I was wrong. Sometimes solutions that seem too convenient actually do work.

I've dealt with Form 3531 before. Here's what you need to know: when they check box 1 for signature, it sometimes means you signed but they couldn't process it properly for whatever reason. Bad ink, smudged, etc. For the address update - they need your CURRENT address on file for this tax return specifically. This is so they know where to send any correspondence or refund related to this particular return. Don't e-file a second return! That would be considered a duplicate filing and could cause even more issues. Just follow the instructions on the Form 3531, sign it properly (use blue or black ink and press firmly), include your current address, and mail everything back. And don't worry about it counting as filed late. Your original submission date is what counts, even with these corrections.

Has anyone tried using tax software to redo this instead of messing with paper forms? I'm in the same situation with a Form 3531 and wondering if I could just e-file now instead of dealing with all this paper nonsense.

I just want to add that the 20-day response window mentioned on Form 3531 isn't actually a hard deadline - it's more of a guideline. The IRS won't reject your response if it's a few days late, but they do want to keep things moving along. One tip that saved me time: before mailing everything back, make copies of all the documents you're sending. This way if something gets lost in the mail (which unfortunately does happen), you have backup copies and won't have to start from scratch. Also, I'd recommend sending your response via certified mail with a return receipt. It costs a few extra dollars but gives you proof that the IRS received your documents. You can track the package and know exactly when it was delivered. This is especially important since you're dealing with tax documents that could affect your refund processing. The whole process is frustrating, but once you send back the corrected Form 3531 with your signature and current address, your return should process normally. Most people see their refunds within 6-8 weeks after the IRS receives the corrected information.

I had a very similar experience with Form 3531 last year! The signature issue is super common - even if you're certain you signed it, sometimes the ink doesn't scan properly or the signature gets smudged during processing. I ended up having to re-sign mine too. For the address situation, the IRS needs your current address on this specific tax return so they know where to send any correspondence or refund related to your 2023 taxes. Even though you updated your address online after moving, they still need it reflected on this particular return they're trying to process. Here's what worked for me: I completed the Form 3531 by signing it clearly in black ink (press firmly!) and wrote my current address in the designated section. I sent it back with all the original documents they returned to me using the envelope they provided. Don't worry about the late filing concern - your original February submission date is what counts. This is just a correction to information on an already-filed return, not a new filing. The IRS just needs these details to finish processing your return. One tip: make copies of everything before you mail it back, and consider sending it certified mail so you have proof of delivery. Good luck!

I'm dealing with a Form 3531 situation right now too, and reading through everyone's experiences has been incredibly helpful! It's reassuring to know that signature scanning issues are so common - I was beating myself up thinking I had made some obvious mistake. One thing I'm curious about - for those who have been through this process, how long did it typically take from when you mailed back your corrected Form 3531 until you saw movement on your refund status? I know @ac59dd81328e mentioned 6-8 weeks and @90bdcb40b7b0 said about 7 weeks, but I'm wondering if there's much variation in processing times. Also, has anyone had experience with what happens if the IRS has additional questions after you send back the Form 3531? I'm just trying to prepare myself mentally for all possibilities since this whole process has already taken so much longer than I expected when I originally filed back in February. The certified mail advice seems to be a consistent recommendation from multiple people here, so I'm definitely going to do that. Better safe than sorry when dealing with important tax documents!

I just wanted to share my recent experience with Form 3531 since I see so many people going through the same stress I did a few months ago. I received the form in August with boxes checked for missing signature and address update. Like many others here, I was absolutely certain I had signed my return properly, but apparently my blue pen wasn't dark enough for their scanning equipment. Here's what I learned that might help others: 1. The signature issue is usually about scan quality, not whether you actually signed. Use a black pen and press firmly - blue ink sometimes doesn't scan well even though it's technically acceptable. 2. For the address update, they really do need your current address on this specific return, even if you've updated it elsewhere. This ensures any correspondence or refund related to this particular tax year goes to the right place. 3. Don't panic about timing - your original filing date is preserved. This is just a correction, not a new filing. 4. Make copies of everything before mailing it back, and definitely use certified mail with return receipt. The few extra dollars are worth the peace of mind. After I sent back my corrected Form 3531, my refund processed in about 6 weeks. The whole experience was much less complicated than I initially feared. Sometimes the IRS just needs clarification on simple things, and once you provide it, everything moves forward normally. Hope this helps anyone currently dealing with this situation!