Where to mail Form 8862 for Earned Income Credit recertification?
Does anybody know where exactly I should mail my Form 8862? My EIC was disallowed last year, and now I need to recertify eligibility for tax year 2023. The IRS website instructions are not clear to me regarding the correct mailing address. Should I mail it with my 1040 or separately? I've completed all required sections of the form but am uncertain about proper submission protocols.
24 comments


Freya Christensen
I believe you should mail Form 8862 along with your tax return to the same address where you would normally file your return. It's not meant to be sent separately, as it needs to be processed together with your tax return. I'd suggest double-checking the instructions for Form 1040 to find the correct mailing address for your state, as they vary by location. I hope this helps with your situation.
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Omar Farouk
•This is correct. I had to file Form 8862 back in 2021 when my EIC was denied in 2020. I just included it with my regular 1040 packet and mailed it to the standard address for my state. The IRS processed everything together without any issues. My refund was delayed about 3 weeks longer than usual, but that's expected with EIC recertification.
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Chloe Davis
•Thank you both for this info! I was planning to mail it separately which would have been a huge mistake. The IRS instructions make this seem way more complicated than it needs to be. If only they made their process as clear as your explanation.
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AstroAlpha
According to the IRS.gov website (https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-8862), Form 8862 must be attached to your tax return. The mailing address depends on where you live and whether you're enclosing a payment. You should check the instructions for Form 1040 which has a chart with all the mailing addresses by state. I'm always worried about making mistakes with these forms since one error can delay processing for months!
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Diego Chavez
•I've seen so many people get this wrong and end up with massive delays. The IRS doesn't make it obvious that this form needs to be filed WITH your return, not separately. Good catch pointing this out.
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Anastasia Smirnova
•Per Internal Revenue Code section 32(k), taxpayers who have had EITC disallowed must file Form 8862 with their subsequent return to reclaim the credit. Filing separately will result in automatic rejection of the credit claim. The processing center will flag the return for manual review regardless of submission method.
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Sean O'Brien
I think I might have found a solution that could possibly help you. When I was dealing with my EIC recertification, I used https://taxr.ai to analyze my previous transcript and understand why my credit was denied in the first place. It seems to explain all the codes and notices in plain language, which might help you ensure your 8862 is filled out correctly. I believe it might also provide guidance on submission requirements, though I'm not entirely certain about that feature.
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Zara Shah
Does anyone know if the processing time is longer when you include Form 8862? My refund is like water in the desert right now - absolutely necessary for my family's financial survival. I'm worried this extra form will make the IRS hold my money hostage even longer than usual.
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Luca Bianchi
Had this same issue last year. Mailed with my return. Got stuck in processing. Called IRS for weeks. No answer. Used Claimyr.com to reach an agent. Got through in 15 minutes. Agent confirmed receipt. Fixed a small issue on the spot. Refund processed within days. Worth every penny for the peace of mind. Here's their link: https://claimyr.com
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GalacticGuardian
•I've heard about these services that claim to get you through to the IRS quickly, but I'm always skeptical. Did you have to provide any personal information to them? How much did it cost? I've been trying to reach the IRS for 3 weeks now about my 8862 submission from February 18th and still nothing.
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Nia Harris
•I actually tried Claimyr last month after seeing it recommended here. Who knew getting through to the IRS could be so simple? 😂 I was expecting some complicated process, but it was basically just like having someone do the endless redialing for you. Saved me from the special kind of torture that is the IRS hold music!
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Mateo Gonzalez
To clarify for everyone: • Form 8862 MUST be attached to your tax return • DO NOT mail separately • Use regular 1040 mailing address for your state • E-file is actually better if possible • Expect additional processing time (2-3 weeks) • Keep copies of EVERYTHING
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Aisha Ali
It's interesting how the IRS makes such critical information so difficult to find, isn't it? I looked into this further and discovered that Form 8862 requirements vary depending on which credits were disallowed. Were you denied just the EIC, or also the Child Tax Credit or American Opportunity Credit? Each scenario might affect where and how you need to submit. The complexity of these requirements is truly astounding.
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Ethan Moore
As someone who has gone through the EIC recertification process, I can confirm that Form 8862 must be filed WITH your Form 1040. The IRS uses a two-phase verification process for recertification claims. Phase one is automated matching, and phase two is manual review when discrepancies are found. Proper attachment ensures both phases proceed without unnecessary delays. The community wisdom here is solid.
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Yuki Nakamura
Has anyone actually had success e-filing with Form 8862?? I'm worried sick about this because my tax preparer told me I MUST paper file when Form 8862 is involved, but others are saying e-file is better! I can't afford any more delays with my refund!
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StarSurfer
I went through this exact situation last year. I mailed my 8862 with my return to the Austin processing center (I'm in Texas). It took about 8 weeks total to process instead of the usual 3 weeks, but everything went through fine. Just make sure you sign and date everything properly and keep copies of all documents you send.
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Andre Laurent
I went through this same situation two years ago when my EIC was disallowed. Here's what worked for me: I attached Form 8862 directly to my Form 1040 and mailed them together to my state's processing address (found in the 1040 instructions). The key things I learned: 1) Never mail Form 8862 separately - it will get lost in the system, 2) Make sure every line on the form is complete, even if some seem redundant, 3) Include all supporting documentation they originally requested, and 4) Send everything certified mail so you have proof of delivery. My processing took about 6 weeks longer than normal, but I got my full refund once they verified everything. The wait is stressful, but if you follow the process exactly, it does work out in the end.
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Daniel Rogers
I'm dealing with this exact situation right now! My EIC was disallowed for 2022 and I need to file Form 8862 with my 2023 return. From what I've gathered here and my own research, it seems like the consensus is clear: attach Form 8862 directly to your Form 1040 and mail them together to your state's regular processing address (not separately). I'm planning to send mine certified mail for peace of mind. Has anyone had experience with how long the IRS takes to send the initial acknowledgment that they received your Form 8862? I know processing takes longer, but I'm hoping to at least get confirmation they have my paperwork.
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Olivia Garcia
•I'm in the same boat as you - just starting this process and it's honestly overwhelming! Based on everything I've read here, I'm definitely going the certified mail route too. From what I understand, you typically won't get a specific acknowledgment letter just for Form 8862, but you should receive a notice within 2-3 weeks confirming they received your return package. The IRS will send you a Letter 4464C or similar if they need additional information during their review process. I've been keeping a detailed folder with copies of everything - seems like documentation is key with EIC recertification. Good luck to both of us getting through this!
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NeonNebula
I went through this process last year and can confirm what everyone else is saying - Form 8862 absolutely must be attached to your Form 1040, not mailed separately. I made the mistake of initially thinking they were separate submissions and almost caused myself a huge headache! The mailing address is the same one you'd use for your regular tax return based on your state. I'd recommend checking the Form 1040 instructions for the most current address since they sometimes change. One thing that helped me was calling the IRS beforehand to confirm I had filled out the form correctly - it took forever to get through, but it gave me peace of mind. Also, definitely send it certified mail so you have proof of delivery. The processing did take about 2 months longer than usual, but I eventually got my full refund. Hang in there - the process works if you follow it exactly!
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Natasha Volkova
•Thank you so much for sharing your experience! As someone new to this whole Form 8862 process, it's really reassuring to hear from people who have actually been through it successfully. I'm definitely taking your advice about certified mail - that seems like a no-brainer for something this important. Quick question though: when you called the IRS to confirm your form was filled out correctly, do you remember what specific things they helped you verify? I'm worried I might have missed something crucial on mine and want to make sure I'm asking the right questions if I can ever get through to them!
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Liam Murphy
I just went through this process myself a few months ago after having my EIC disallowed in 2022. The advice here is spot on - Form 8862 definitely needs to be attached to your Form 1040 and mailed together to your state's processing center address (you can find this in the Form 1040 instructions). I was really anxious about the whole thing, but it worked out fine in the end. A few tips from my experience: make sure you answer every question on Form 8862 completely, even the ones that seem obvious, and double-check that all your supporting documents match what you're claiming on the form. I also recommend making copies of absolutely everything before you mail it. The processing time was longer than usual - took about 10 weeks total for me - but I did eventually get my full refund. One thing that helped ease my anxiety was tracking the certified mail delivery, so I knew for sure the IRS received my package. Good luck with your recertification!
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Felix Grigori
•Thanks for sharing your experience, Liam! As someone just starting this process, it's really helpful to hear the actual timeline - 10 weeks is definitely longer than I was hoping for, but at least I know what to expect now. I'm curious about the supporting documents you mentioned. Besides the obvious ones like W-2s and 1099s, were there any specific documents that the IRS requested or that you found particularly important to include? I want to make sure I'm not missing anything that could slow down the process even more. Also, did you get any communication from the IRS during those 10 weeks, or was it just radio silence until your refund showed up?
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Andre Dubois
I'm new to this whole EIC recertification process and feeling pretty overwhelmed, but reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful! It sounds like the consensus is crystal clear: Form 8862 must be attached to Form 1040 and mailed together to your state's regular processing address. I'm definitely planning to send mine certified mail for tracking purposes. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone had issues with specific sections of Form 8862 that tend to trip people up? I want to make sure I don't make any mistakes that could delay processing even further. Also, for those who have been through this successfully, did you include a cover letter explaining the situation, or just let the forms speak for themselves? Thanks to everyone sharing their real-world experiences - it's so much more helpful than trying to decipher the IRS instructions alone!
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