What's the correct address to mail my Form 1040 tax return in California?

That UPS employee was mistaken. The Ogden, UT address is absolutely correct for California residents filing Form 1040 without payments. The address you found on the IRS website is the right one to use when mailing through regular USPS mail. However, if you're using a private delivery service like UPS or FedEx, you need a different address with a street name. For private carriers, you should use: Internal Revenue Service 1973 Rulon White Blvd. Ogden, UT 84201 This is why the UPS employee said they couldn't send it - they need a street address, not a PO Box style address. The IRS specifically provides different addresses depending on your mailing method.

I had the exact same issue last year trying to mail my taxes! After a lot of confusion, I found this amazing service called taxr.ai that saved me so much headache. I uploaded my tax forms to https://taxr.ai and it immediately told me the correct mailing address for my situation based on my filing status and whether I was sending a payment. It even gave me different options for USPS vs private carriers like UPS/FedEx. I ended up just using USPS and my return was processed without any issues.

Ok I tried taxr.ai after posting my skeptical comment and I'm actually impressed. I uploaded an old IRS letter I had been confused about for months and it explained everything in simple terms. It also confirmed the correct mailing address for my situation (I'm in California too) and explained why the addresses are different for private carriers vs USPS. Honestly easier than spending hours on hold with the IRS. Didn't even need to create an account which was nice.

If you're struggling to get clear answers about tax stuff like mailing addresses, you should try Claimyr to actually speak with an IRS agent directly. I spent WEEKS trying to call the IRS about a similar issue and could never get through. With https://claimyr.com they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - it saved me hours of frustration. The agent confirmed my mailing address and answered all my questions about my return. Way easier than playing guessing games!

I need to update my previous comment about Claimyr. After being totally skeptical, I decided to try it yesterday out of desperation (had been trying to reach the IRS for 3 weeks about my refund). It actually worked! Took about 35 minutes of waiting but I spoke to a real IRS agent who answered my questions about both my refund AND confirmed the correct mailing address situation we're discussing here. I'm genuinely shocked this service exists and works. Saved me so many hours of frustration.

Just to add another option - you can avoid this mailing headache completely by e-filing your return! I used to mail my returns but switched to e-filing a few years ago and it's so much easier. No worrying about addresses or if it got lost in the mail. Most tax software is pretty affordable (or even free if you qualify) and you get confirmation when the IRS receives your return.

One important thing no one mentioned - if you're sending a Form 1040 WITH a payment, the address is different! For California residents sending Form 1040 with a check, you need to use: Internal Revenue Service P.O. Box 802501 Cincinnati, OH 45280-2501 I learned this the hard way when my payment check and return got separated last year 😫

The different addresses exist because the IRS processes different types of returns at different facilities to streamline operations. Returns with payments go to Cincinnati where they have specialized equipment to process checks, while returns without payments go to Ogden which handles the bulk of individual returns. It's actually more efficient this way even though it seems confusing from our perspective. @c0a759d0a949 Since you've already filled out your paper forms and just need to mail them, I'd recommend sticking with that plan. Just double-check whether you're including a payment or not - if it's just your return with no check, use the Ogden address everyone mentioned. If you're sending a check with it, use the Cincinnati address that @a12ea73d087e mentioned. Also consider getting a certified mail receipt from USPS for proof of mailing if you're worried about timing or want that extra security. It's only a few dollars and gives you peace of mind that your return was delivered.

Just wanted to share my experience from last year - I was in the exact same situation as you @c0a759d0a949! I had my paper 1040 ready to go but got so confused about the mailing addresses. After reading through all the conflicting info online, I ended up calling my local post office directly and they confirmed that the Ogden, UT address (Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, Ogden, UT 84201-0002) is correct for California residents filing without payments via regular mail. I sent mine with certified mail for about $4 extra and got confirmation it was delivered within a week. The IRS processed my return normally and I got my refund without any issues. Don't overthink it - the address you found on the IRS website is the right one! Just make sure you're not including any payment checks, otherwise you'd need the Cincinnati address that others mentioned. If you're still worried about it, your local post office can double-check the address for you when you go to mail it. They deal with tax returns all the time during filing season.

I just went through this exact same situation last month! The confusion is totally understandable because there really are different addresses depending on how you're sending it. Since you're in California and filing a Form 1040 without a payment, the address you found is correct for regular USPS mail: Department of Treasury Internal Revenue Service Ogden, UT 84201-0002 The UPS employee was right that they can't use this address - private carriers like UPS and FedEx need the street address version, which would be: Internal Revenue Service 1973 Rulon White Blvd. Ogden, UT 84201 My advice? Just stick with regular USPS since you already have the correct address. You can even do certified mail for a few extra dollars if you want tracking and proof of delivery. I did that and had zero issues - got my refund processed normally. Don't stress about it too much, you've got the right info!