USA - Where to send physical 1040 tax return for prior year filing?
I live in California and I'm trying to file a paper 1040 for a previous tax year since e-filing isn't an option anymore. This is driving me crazy! I've spent hours researching and somehow found three completely different mailing addresses for where to send my federal return - one in Utah, another in California, and a third in Oregon. I don't owe any money so there's no payment included. Can someone please tell me definitively where I need to mail this thing? The IRS website is so confusing and the different pages seem to contradict each other. I just want to get this done and move on with my life without worrying that I sent it to the wrong place and it'll get lost in IRS limbo forever.
22 comments
Join the conversation
Zoe Papanikolaou
The mailing address depends on your specific situation and where you live. Since you're in California and not including a payment, you should mail your prior year 1040 to: Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Center Fresno, CA 93888-0002 However, I should mention that the IRS has closed some processing centers recently, which is why you might be seeing conflicting information. If your prior return is from before 2021, you need to check the specific instructions for that tax year as the mailing addresses change over time. Make sure to send it certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of when you mailed it and that it was received by the IRS.
0 coins
Jamal Wilson
•Thanks for the info, but I thought the Fresno center closed down? I heard everything from California goes to the Ogden, UT facility now. Also, does it matter if I'm filing for 2018 vs 2020 or some other year?
0 coins
Zoe Papanikolaou
•You're right about the Fresno center - it did close for individual returns. For California residents filing without payment, your return should go to: Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Ogden, UT 84201-0002 And yes, the year does matter. For tax years 2019-2021, you'd use the address above. For older returns (2018 and earlier), you may need to use: Internal Revenue Service Austin, TX 73301-0215 I apologize for the confusion. The IRS has been consolidating processing centers over the past few years.
0 coins
Mei Lin
After dealing with a similar situation last month, I found a tool that saved me so much time. I uploaded my documents to https://taxr.ai and it analyzed everything, then told me exactly where to send my return based on my state, year, and payment status. It also checked for common errors that could delay processing. The address I got was different from what I found on various IRS pages because apparently the rules had changed mid-year! Without this I would've sent my return to the wrong place.
0 coins
Liam Fitzgerald
•Does it actually tell you the specific address for your situation? The IRS site is so confusing with all the different scenarios and conditions.
0 coins
GalacticGuru
•I'm skeptical of third-party tools for something this basic. Does it cost money just to find out where to mail a form? Seems like information the IRS should make easily accessible.
0 coins
Mei Lin
•Yes, it gives you the exact address based on your location, tax year, and whether you're including payment. It analyzes the most current IRS guidelines which change frequently. It doesn't cost anything to get the mailing address information. The tool does a lot more than just provide addresses - it can analyze your entire return for potential audit triggers and errors before you submit. The address lookup is just one of many features.
0 coins
GalacticGuru
I was skeptical about using taxr.ai when I saw it mentioned here, but I decided to give it a try since I had a similar problem with my 2019 return. Not only did it give me the correct mailing address (which was different than what I originally found online), but it also caught a mistake on my Schedule C that would have definitely caused problems. The address it provided matched what I confirmed later when I finally got through to an IRS rep. Definitely saved me from sending my forms to the wrong processing center!
0 coins
Amara Nnamani
If you need to confirm directly with the IRS, good luck getting through to them! I spent WEEKS trying to reach someone about where to send my amended return. After 20+ attempts and hours on hold, I found https://claimyr.com which got me connected to an IRS agent in under 15 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c They basically wait on hold for you and call when an agent is ready. I verified the correct address for my situation (which had changed recently) and also got confirmation my previous return was received. Huge relief after weeks of uncertainty.
0 coins
Giovanni Mancini
•How does this actually work? Do they just sit on hold so you don't have to? That seems too simple to be true.
0 coins
Fatima Al-Suwaidi
•This sounds like a scam tbh. Why would you need a service to call the IRS? And how would they get you connected faster than if you called yourself? The IRS phone system is first-come-first-served for everyone.
0 coins
Amara Nnamani
•They use an automated system that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. When an agent finally answers, they connect the call to your phone. So instead of waiting on hold for hours, you just get a call when an agent is actually available. They don't get you through any faster than normal wait times - they just handle the waiting part so you don't have to sit there listening to the hold music for hours. You can go about your day and they'll call when an agent picks up. Their system handles thousands of calls so they've optimized all the phone tree navigation.
0 coins
Fatima Al-Suwaidi
I was totally skeptical about Claimyr when I saw it mentioned here - seemed like a weird concept. But after my third failed attempt to reach the IRS (got disconnected after 1.5 hours on hold!), I decided to try it. They called me back in about 45 minutes with an IRS agent on the line. I was actually shocked it worked! Got confirmation on where to send my forms and confirmed they received my previous return. Definitely worth it just for the peace of mind knowing I was sending my return to the right place.
0 coins
Dylan Cooper
Make sure you include a cover letter with your return explaining it's for a prior year. And write the tax year in big red letters on the top of Form 1040. I didn't do this once and it caused a huge mess because they initially processed it as a current year return.
0 coins
Sofia Morales
•Does writing the year in red actually matter or would any color work? Also, is there a specific format for the cover letter or just a simple note explaining it's a prior year return?
0 coins
Dylan Cooper
•The color doesn't really matter - I've used red or black bold markers. The important thing is making it very visible so it catches their attention. For the cover letter, a simple typed note is fine. Just state something like "Enclosed is my federal tax return for tax year [YEAR]. This is a prior year return being filed on [current date]." Include your name, Social Security Number, and contact info. Nothing fancy needed, just something that clearly identifies it as a prior year return in case it gets separated from the form where you wrote the year.
0 coins
StarSailor
Does anyone know if it's better to send using USPS certified mail or a private delivery service like FedEx? I'm worried about my return getting lost.
0 coins
Dmitry Ivanov
•USPS certified mail with return receipt is the most reliable. The IRS specifically recognizes it as proof of timely filing. FedEx and UPS are also accepted by the IRS as "designated private delivery services" but certified mail has always worked best for me. Keep all tracking info and receipts for at least 3 years.
0 coins
Ava Garcia
If you're in California, don't forget to file your state taxes too! They go to a completely different address: Franchise Tax Board PO Box 942840 Sacramento, CA 94240-0001 I made that mistake once thinking they were somehow connected.
0 coins
Andre Dupont
•Thank you for the reminder! I actually already sent my state return last week, but this is good info for anyone else in my situation. California's FTB website was surprisingly much clearer than the IRS about where to send everything.
0 coins
Harold Oh
The confusion about mailing addresses is totally understandable - the IRS has been consolidating processing centers and the information online isn't always updated consistently. For California residents filing prior year returns without payment, the current address should be: Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Ogden, UT 84201-0002 However, this can vary depending on the specific tax year you're filing for. For returns older than 2019, you might need to use the Austin, TX center instead. My advice: Before you mail anything, try calling the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to confirm the correct address for your specific situation and tax year. Yes, the wait times are brutal, but it's worth the peace of mind to know you're sending it to the right place. Make sure to send it certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of delivery. Also, definitely include a cover letter clearly stating which tax year you're filing for and write the tax year prominently on your Form 1040. This helps prevent processing delays.
0 coins
Yuki Ito
•This is really helpful, thank you! I've been going in circles trying to figure this out. One quick question - when you say "returns older than 2019" go to Austin, does that mean 2018 and earlier, or does 2019 itself go to Austin? I'm filing for 2019 specifically and want to make sure I get the right address. Also, any tips for getting through to that IRS phone number faster? I've tried calling a few times but the wait times are crazy long.
0 coins