Is it OK to cross out old address on paper check for IRS payment and write in new address?

9 Yes, you can cross out your old address on the check, initial it, and write in your new address. The IRS is primarily concerned with the payment being properly credited to your account, so they're looking at the payment amount, your name, Social Security Number, and tax year/form information. Banks generally accept checks with minor corrections like a crossed-out address as long as it's initialed. What's most important is that the payment amount, date, and signature remain unaltered. The address on the check is less critical for processing purposes.

5 I had the same situation last year when paying my estimated taxes. I used https://taxr.ai to upload a picture of my check with the crossed-out address and they confirmed it was perfectly fine. They explained that banks process thousands of checks with crossed-out information daily, as long as it's initialed. What I found most helpful was their explanation about how the IRS actually processes paper checks - they have automated systems that scan for the payment amount, account number, and routing info. The address on your check isn't even part of their verification process as long as you include your SSN and tax year/form as you mentioned.

3 Just wanted to update that I tried using taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here. I uploaded my check with the crossed-out address along with some other tax documents I had questions about. Their analysis confirmed everything was fine and they even pointed out some additional details I should include to make sure the payment is properly credited. Really helpful service, saved me a trip to the bank to order new checks!

12 If you're worried about how the IRS will handle your payment, you might want to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I used it when I had a similar issue with a payment not being properly credited. Instead of waiting on hold with the IRS for hours, they got me connected to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was able to confirm directly with the IRS agent that crossed-out addresses on checks are perfectly acceptable as long as they're initialed. The agent also gave me specific instructions on what to write on the memo line (tax year, form number, and SSN) to ensure my payment was properly credited. Definitely worth it if you need to speak directly with someone at the IRS.

16 I owe everyone an apology - especially to Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to actually try the service since I've been trying to reach the IRS for weeks about a payment issue. Not only did it work exactly as described, but I got connected to an agent in under 20 minutes after trying unsuccessfully on my own for days. The agent confirmed that crossing out an address on a check is completely fine as long as it's initialed, and they helped resolve my other payment questions too. Definitely worth it and I'm glad I gave it a chance!

2 Former bank teller here. This is totally fine! We processed checks with crossed-out addresses all the time. Just make sure you initial next to the correction. The most important parts of a check for processing are the routing number, account number, amount, date, and signature. The address is mainly for the check writer's reference. One tip though - make sure you write your SSN, tax year and form clearly on the memo line! That's way more important than the address because that's how the IRS matches your payment to your account.

18 Would it be better to just order new checks? I know it costs money but seems like it might be worth avoiding any potential issues...

23 Slightly off-topic but I'd recommend paying the IRS electronically if possible. IRS Direct Pay is free and you get immediate confirmation that they received your payment. Paper checks can get lost or misapplied. I learned this the hard way when they claimed they never received my payment last year, even though my bank showed the check was cashed. Took months to resolve!

Great point about electronic payments! I actually started using IRS Direct Pay after having a similar experience with a paper check that took forever to process. The electronic system gives you instant confirmation and eliminates the worry about whether your payment was received and properly credited. For anyone still preferring paper checks though, crossing out the old address and initialing it is definitely fine. Just make sure to keep a copy of the check for your records, and consider sending it certified mail so you have proof of delivery. The IRS processes thousands of checks daily with minor corrections like address changes. The most important thing is including your SSN, tax year, and form number in the memo line so they can properly credit your account!

As someone who works in banking, I can confirm that crossing out your old address and initialing it is completely acceptable. We see this all the time and it won't cause any issues with processing. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned - if you're really concerned about the correction looking messy or unprofessional, you can also just leave the old address as-is on the check. The IRS doesn't actually require your current address to be on the check itself, since they're not using it for mailing purposes. What matters most is that your payment gets properly credited to your account. Just make sure you have the correct information in these key areas: - Your SSN in the memo line - Tax year and form number (like "2023 Form 1040") - Correct payment amount - Your signature The address correction is fine, but even if you skip it entirely, your payment will still process normally as long as the other details are correct!

Just wanted to add another perspective - I've been a tax preparer for over 15 years and have seen clients worry about this exact situation countless times. The IRS really doesn't care about cosmetic issues like crossed-out addresses on checks as long as the payment information is correct. What I always tell my clients is that the IRS processes millions of payments during tax season, and their systems are designed to handle common scenarios like address corrections. The key things they're looking for are: 1. The payment amount matches what you owe 2. Your SSN is clearly written in the memo line 3. The tax year and form are specified 4. The check is properly signed and dated I've never had a client's payment rejected because they crossed out an old address. The IRS bank processing centers are very accustomed to handling these minor corrections. Just initial next to the change and you're good to go! If you're still nervous about it, you could always call the IRS directly to confirm, but honestly you'll likely spend more time on hold than it would take to just send the check as-is.

I work at a credit union and can confirm what others have said - crossing out your old address and initialing it is totally fine! We process checks like this daily without any issues. One thing I'd suggest is using a blue or black pen for the correction rather than pencil, and make sure your initials are clear and match the signature style on the check. The IRS and banking systems are very accustomed to address corrections on checks. Also, since you mentioned you moved last year, this is a good reminder to update your address with the IRS using Form 8822 if you haven't already. While the address on your check won't update their records, having your correct address on file with them is important for future correspondence. Your check should process without any problems as long as you include your SSN, tax year, and form number in the memo line like you mentioned!

I had this exact situation a few months ago! I was worried about the same thing but ended up crossing out my old address, initialing it, and sending the check anyway. The IRS processed it without any issues at all. What really helped me feel confident was calling my bank first to ask about it. The teller told me they see address corrections on checks all the time and it's completely normal banking practice as long as you initial the change. The key things I made sure to include were: - My full SSN in the memo line - Tax year (2023) - Form number (1040) - Clear initials next to the crossed-out address The payment was credited to my account within about 10 days, which is typical for paper check processing. So don't stress about it - just make those corrections clearly and you should be all set!

I actually had a similar issue last month when paying quarterly estimated taxes. My checks had my old address from two moves ago! I was hesitant at first, but I crossed it out neatly, initialed it, and wrote my current address above it. The payment went through without any problems - cleared my bank within a few days and showed up properly credited on my IRS account online about a week later. The key really is making sure you have your SSN, tax year, and form number clearly written in the memo line like everyone's mentioned. One small tip I'd add: I used a ruler to make a clean line through the old address rather than just scribbling it out, which made the correction look more professional. But honestly, based on all the responses here from banking professionals and tax preparers, it seems like the IRS is pretty accommodating with these types of corrections. Don't overthink it - just make the correction clearly and send it in!

I'm a CPA and want to echo what others have said - crossing out your old address and initialing it is absolutely fine for IRS payments. I've prepared thousands of tax returns over the years and have never seen a payment rejected for this reason. The IRS processing centers are designed to handle high volumes during tax season, and address corrections on checks are routine. What matters most is proper identification of your account through your SSN and clear indication of what the payment is for (tax year and form). One additional point - if you're concerned about processing time or want confirmation your payment was received, consider using certified mail. It costs a few extra dollars but gives you a tracking number and delivery confirmation. This can be helpful if you're cutting it close to a deadline or just want peace of mind that your payment arrived safely. But again, the address correction itself is not a problem at all - just make it neat and clear with your initials!

As someone who just went through this exact situation last week, I can definitely confirm that crossing out your old address and initialing it works perfectly fine! I was nervous about it too, but after reading through all these responses from banking professionals and tax experts, I went ahead and did it. I used a black pen to draw a clean line through my old address, wrote my initials next to it, and added my current address above it. Made sure to include my SSN, "2023 Form 1040" in the memo line, and sent it off. The check cleared my bank within 3 business days and when I checked my IRS online account a week later, the payment was properly credited with no issues whatsoever. The IRS really does process these types of corrections routinely - I think we tend to overthink it because it's the IRS, but their payment processing systems are designed to handle common situations like address changes on checks. Just make the correction clearly, include all the required info in the memo line, and you'll be good to go!

I'm actually in the exact same boat right now! Just moved a few months ago and realized all my checks still have my old address. Reading through all these responses from banking professionals, CPAs, and people who've actually done this recently has been super helpful and reassuring. It sounds like the consensus is crystal clear - crossing out the old address, initialing it, and writing in the new address is completely routine and acceptable. The most important thing is making sure I include my SSN, tax year, and form number in the memo line so the IRS can properly credit the payment to my account. I love the tip about using a ruler to make a clean line through the old address - that's definitely what I'm going to do to make it look more professional. And the reminder about filing Form 8822 to officially update my address with the IRS is something I need to take care of too. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences and professional expertise. This thread has saved me from unnecessarily ordering new checks and given me the confidence to just go ahead with the payment!

I work as a bank processor and can add some technical details that might be helpful. When we receive IRS checks with address corrections, our automated systems don't flag them as problematic at all - the scanning technology focuses on the MICR line (routing/account numbers), the amount field, and signature verification. Address corrections like yours are so common that we have specific procedures for handling them. As long as the correction is initialed and legible, it processes normally through our systems. The IRS batch processing treats it the same as any other check. One small detail that hasn't been mentioned - when you write your new address, try to keep it in the same general area as the old address if possible. This helps maintain the visual flow of the check and makes it easier for both automated and manual processing. Your payment will definitely go through without issues. The IRS cares much more about proper account identification (your SSN and tax info in the memo line) than cosmetic corrections to printed information.

Just to add another data point - I'm a former IRS seasonal employee who worked in the payment processing center during tax seasons. We literally processed thousands of checks daily with all kinds of minor corrections - crossed out addresses, phone numbers, even misspelled names that were corrected and initialed. The automated systems are designed to capture the essential payment information: amount, account details, and taxpayer identification. Address corrections don't even register as an issue in the processing workflow. What would cause a problem is an unclear payment amount, missing signature, or inability to match the payment to a taxpayer account (which is why the SSN and tax year in the memo line are so critical). Your check will process normally. The IRS has been handling paper checks with corrections for decades - it's completely routine business for them. Just make sure that memo line has your SSN, tax year, and form number clearly written!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! I was in the exact same situation and was really stressing about whether to order new checks or risk having my payment rejected. Seeing all the professional perspectives from bank employees, CPAs, tax preparers, and even a former IRS payment processing center worker has completely put my mind at ease. It's clear that crossing out your old address and initialing it is not only acceptable but completely routine - the IRS processes thousands of these corrections daily during tax season. The key takeaways I'm getting are: 1. Make a clean correction with a black or blue pen and initial it clearly 2. Include your full SSN, tax year, and form number in the memo line 3. The IRS automated systems focus on payment amount and account identification, not cosmetic corrections 4. Consider certified mail for peace of mind and delivery confirmation I'm going to follow the advice here and stop overthinking it. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences and professional expertise - this community is incredibly valuable for navigating these everyday tax questions!

I'm new to this community and was just about to post this exact same question! Reading through all these responses has been incredibly reassuring - it's clear that crossing out your old address and initialing it is completely standard practice. What really convinced me was hearing from the former IRS payment processing center employee who mentioned they handled thousands of checks daily with various corrections. That insider perspective, combined with all the banking professionals and tax preparers confirming this is routine, makes it obvious we tend to overthink these situations. I'm definitely going to follow the advice here: clean correction with a good pen, clear initials, and make sure to include my SSN, tax year, and form number in the memo line. The tip about certified mail for peace of mind is smart too. Thanks to everyone who shared their real-world experiences - this community is so helpful for practical tax questions that aren't always clearly explained in official IRS materials!