USA - Where to send physical 1040 tax return for prior year filing?

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?

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.

Does it actually tell you the specific address for your situation? The IRS site is so confusing with all the different scenarios and conditions.

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.

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.

How does this actually work? Do they just sit on hold so you don't have to? That seems too simple to be true.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

For 2019 specifically, you should use the Ogden, UT address that Harold mentioned. The Austin center is typically for 2018 and earlier tax years. Regarding getting through to the IRS faster - I've had success calling right when they open (7 AM local time) or trying again around 1-2 PM when call volume sometimes dips slightly. Also, when you call 1-800-829-1040, press 1 for English, then 2 for personal income tax questions, then 1 for form/tax law questions, and then 3 for all other tax law questions. This usually gets you to a live agent faster than other menu options. Another tip: if you get the "due to high call volume" message and get disconnected, try calling back immediately. Sometimes you'll get through on the second or third attempt. It's frustrating but persistence usually pays off.

For 2019 specifically, you should use the Ogden, UT address that Harold mentioned. The Austin address is typically for 2018 and earlier years. As for getting through to the IRS phone line faster, I've had good luck calling right when they open at 7 AM (your local time). The lines are usually less busy first thing in the morning. Also, try calling on Tuesday through Thursday - Mondays and Fridays tend to be their busiest days. When you do call, have your Social Security Number and the specific tax year ready. The automated system will ask for this info before connecting you to an agent. Sometimes it helps to press "2" for business questions instead of "1" for individual - the wait times can be shorter and they can still help with individual return questions.

For 2019 specifically, you should use the Ogden, UT address that Harold mentioned. The Austin address is typically for 2018 and earlier years. Regarding getting through to the IRS faster - I've had better luck calling right when they open (7 AM local time) or trying the specialized lines instead of the main number. The Practitioner Priority Service line (1-866-860-4259) sometimes has shorter wait times even for individual taxpayers, though it's technically for tax professionals. Another option that some people mentioned earlier in this thread is using a callback service like Claimyr that waits on hold for you and calls you back when an agent is available. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked when I needed to verify some information for my 2020 amended return. But honestly, for a straightforward 2019 return from California with no payment, the Ogden address should be correct. Just make sure to send it certified mail and include that cover letter Harold mentioned!

For 2019 returns, you should use the Ogden, UT address that Harold mentioned. The Austin address is typically for 2018 and earlier years. As for getting through to the IRS faster, I've found that calling right when they open (7 AM local time) gives you the best chance. Also, try calling on Tuesday through Thursday - Mondays and Fridays tend to be their busiest days. When you do get through the phone tree, have your Social Security Number and the specific tax year ready since they'll ask for that right away. If the wait times are still too much, some people in this thread mentioned using services that wait on hold for you, though I'd personally try the direct approach first since it's free.

For 2019 specifically, you should use the Ogden, UT address that Harold mentioned. The Austin address is typically for 2018 and earlier years. As for getting through to the IRS faster, I've had luck calling right when they open at 7 AM (they open early during tax season). Also, try calling on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday - Mondays and Fridays tend to be their busiest days. When you call, have your Social Security Number and the specific tax year ready, and be prepared to navigate through several menu options. If the regular wait times are still too long, some people here mentioned using services like Claimyr that handle the waiting for you, though I haven't tried that myself.

For 2019 specifically, you should use the Ogden, UT address that Harold mentioned. The Austin center is typically for 2018 and earlier years. As for getting through to the IRS phone line faster, try calling right when they open (7 AM local time) or during lunch hours when call volume might be lighter. I've also heard that calling on Tuesdays or Wednesdays tends to have shorter wait times than Mondays or Fridays. Another tip: when you get to the automated system, don't select the option for "current year" questions - choose the option for "prior year returns" or "account questions" as these lines sometimes have shorter waits. Just be patient and persistent!

For 2019 returns, you should use the Ogden, UT address that Harold mentioned. The Austin address is typically for 2018 and earlier years. As for getting through to the IRS faster, try calling early in the morning (around 7-8 AM) or later in the afternoon after 3 PM - these tend to have shorter wait times. Also, when you call, have your Social Security Number and the specific tax year ready since they'll ask for that right away. If you're still having trouble getting through, some people in this thread mentioned using Claimyr to handle the waiting on hold, though I haven't tried it myself. The main thing is getting confirmation before you mail so you don't have to worry about it ending up in the wrong place!

For 2019 specifically, you should use the Ogden, UT address that Harold mentioned. The Austin address is typically for 2018 and earlier years. As for getting through to the IRS faster, I've had some success calling right when they open at 7 AM (or whatever time zone you're in). Also try calling on Tuesday or Wednesday - Mondays and Fridays tend to be their busiest days. If you're still having trouble getting through, some people in this thread mentioned services like Claimyr that wait on hold for you, though I haven't tried that myself. The most important thing is getting confirmation of the right address before you send anything - it'll save you a lot of headaches later!

For 2019 specifically, you should use the Ogden, UT address that Harold mentioned. The Austin center is typically for 2018 and earlier years. Regarding getting through to the IRS faster - I've had success calling right when they open (7 AM local time) or late in the day around 5-6 PM. Tuesday through Thursday seem to have shorter wait times than Mondays and Fridays. When you call, press 1 for English, then 2 for personal income tax questions, then 1 for form/tax law questions, then 3 for all other tax law questions. This usually gets you to a live person faster than other menu options. Alternatively, if you saw the earlier comments about Claimyr, that might be worth considering if you don't want to sit on hold for hours. Several people here seemed to have success with it.

For 2019, you should use the Ogden, UT address that Harold mentioned. The Austin address is typically for 2018 and earlier years. So you're good with: Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service Ogden, UT 84201-0002 As for getting through to the IRS faster, try calling right when they open at 7 AM local time, or on Tuesdays/Wednesdays which tend to be less busy than Mondays. Some people have had luck calling later in the day around 4-5 PM too. The key is persistence - keep trying different times of day until you get through. You could also try the automated callback option if available, so you don't have to sit on hold. If you're still having trouble reaching them after multiple attempts, some of the services mentioned earlier in this thread like Claimyr might be worth considering to handle the waiting for you.

For 2019 specifically, you should use the Ogden, UT address. When I say "older than 2019," I mean 2018 and earlier go to Austin. So 2019 and newer (2019-2021) go to Ogden, UT. For getting through to the IRS faster, try calling right when they open (7 AM local time) or later in the week (Thursday/Friday). Tuesday and Wednesday tend to be their busiest days. You can also try the automated system first - sometimes it can give you basic information without waiting for an agent. Another trick is to call the Practitioner Priority Service line at 1-866-860-4259 if you're calling on behalf of someone else, though that's technically for tax professionals. If you're still having trouble getting through, some people have had success with services like Claimyr that others mentioned earlier in this thread - they handle the waiting on hold for you and call when an agent is available.

For 2019 returns, you should use the Ogden, UT address since that's considered a "recent" prior year return. The Austin address is typically for much older returns (2018 and earlier). As for getting through to the IRS faster, I've had better luck calling right when they open at 7 AM local time, or try calling on Tuesday or Wednesday - Mondays and Fridays tend to be the busiest. You could also try that Claimyr service that @Amara Nnamani mentioned earlier - I haven t'used it myself but it sounds like it could save you from sitting on hold for hours. Just make sure when you do get through to confirm both the address AND that you don t'need any special forms or procedures for filing a 2019 return in 2025, since it s'been several years past the original deadline.