Which address should I put on my W4 form for a new job?

Welcome to adulting! This is actually a really common question and you're smart to ask. For your W4, you should use the address where you want to receive tax-related mail, especially your W-2 form which you'll need for filing taxes. The IRS doesn't actually care which address you use as long as you can reliably receive mail there. If you'll be at your apartment for a while and can reliably receive mail there, I'd suggest using that address. However, if you move frequently (as many recent grads do), using your parents' address might be more practical since you won't have to update your address with your employer every time you move. Just make sure whichever address you choose is where you want your W-2 sent in January. And remember, if you do change addresses, you should update your employer with the new information.

I was in the exact same situation last year and learned the hard way when my W-2 got sent to my old apartment and I had to track it down. I actually found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that was super helpful when I was stressed about getting all my paperwork together. I uploaded my documents there and it helped me figure out what I was missing and what I needed to do. They even explained what to do about the address change situation. Basically they confirmed what others here are saying - use the address where you can reliably get mail, and notify employers immediately when you move.

Just wanted to update that I checked out taxr.ai after asking about it here and it was actually super helpful! I had a couple old W-2s from college jobs that I wasn't sure if I needed to include on my taxes this year, and the document analyzer cleared it up right away. Saved me from having to pay an accountant just to ask basic questions. Definitely recommend for other new grads trying to figure this stuff out!

One thing nobody's mentioned - if you're going to be filing state taxes, using your actual residence address might matter more. I moved mid-year and had to file partial year resident returns in two states. Trying to reach the IRS to ask questions was IMPOSSIBLE until I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). Check out their demo video here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in like 20 minutes when I'd been trying for days. The agent confirmed that for state tax purposes, your physical residence matters more than the mailing address on your W4. So even if you use your parents' address for receiving mail, you'll file state taxes based on where you actually live.

Ok I need to eat my words. I tried Claimyr after posting my skeptical comment because I've been trying to resolve an issue with a missing tax refund for WEEKS. Got connected to an actual human at the IRS in about 45 minutes (not quite 20 but WAY better than my previous attempts). The agent was able to confirm my refund was processing but had been delayed. Saved me so much time and stress - definitely worth it if you need to actually talk to someone at the IRS.

Quick tip from someone who's been through this: If you're getting your W-2 electronically (many companies offer this now), the physical address matters a lot less. Ask your HR if they have an electronic W-2 option. It's more secure anyway!

Am I the only one who's had issues with mail getting lost when I use my apartment address? I always use my parents' address for important stuff because in my apartment complex packages and mail randomly disappear or get delivered to the wrong unit.

This is such a relatable question! I went through the same confusion when I started my first "real" job after college. Here's what I learned from experience: The most important thing is consistency and reliability. If you're planning to stay at your new apartment for at least the next year (through tax season), I'd recommend using that address since it's where you'll actually be living and receiving mail daily. However, if you think there's a good chance you might move again before next January when W-2s get mailed out, stick with your parents' address. Moving is so common for recent grads, and having to chase down tax documents that got sent to an old address is a huge headache. One more thing to consider - make sure whoever's address you use knows to expect important tax mail and will forward it to you promptly if needed. I've seen friends miss tax deadlines because their parents forgot to mention a W-2 arrived! You're definitely not overthinking it - getting this stuff right from the start saves so much stress later. Good luck with the new job!

Great question! I went through this exact same situation a few years ago. Here's what I wish someone had told me: The address on your W4 is primarily for mailing purposes - it's where your employer will send your W-2 and any other tax-related correspondence. The IRS doesn't actually care which address you use as long as you can receive mail there reliably. My recommendation: Use your parents' address for now, especially since you mentioned this is only your second job and you're still transitioning into post-grad life. Here's why: 1. **Stability** - Parents' addresses tend to be more permanent than young adults' apartments 2. **Reliability** - Your parents can hold onto important documents even if you move unexpectedly 3. **Backup** - If something happens with mail delivery, your parents are more likely to notice and follow up You can always update your address with HR later if your living situation becomes more permanent. Most employers make address changes pretty straightforward. The key thing is just making sure wherever you choose, that person/place will reliably receive and hold onto your tax documents until you need them. Don't stress too much about this - you're asking the right questions and thinking ahead, which puts you ahead of a lot of people starting their first jobs!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! Just wanted to add that if you do decide to use your apartment address, consider setting up mail forwarding with USPS as a backup plan. It's pretty inexpensive (I think around $1.10 per week) and ensures that if you do move unexpectedly, your important mail will follow you to your new address for up to a year. I learned this the hard way when I moved last spring and forgot to update my address with one of my employers. Thankfully the mail forwarding caught my W-2, but it would have been a nightmare trying to get a replacement copy. Also, since you mentioned this is your second job - make sure you're aware that you might need to adjust your withholdings on the W-4 since having multiple jobs can affect how much tax is taken out. The IRS has a pretty helpful online calculator for this if you want to double-check that you're not going to owe a bunch at tax time! Good luck with the new job - you're definitely not overthinking this. It's way better to ask these questions upfront than deal with complications later!

I'm actually going through this exact same situation right now! Just started my first full-time job after graduation and was so confused about the address thing on my W4. Reading through all these responses has been super helpful - I love how supportive this community is for us new grads trying to figure everything out. I think I'm going to go with my parents' address for now since I'm still in that "young adult nomad" phase where I might end up moving again in the next year or two. One thing that's been stressing me out though is making sure I don't mess up anything else on the W4. Are there any other common mistakes new grads make on these forms that I should watch out for? I keep second-guessing myself on every line! Thanks for creating such a helpful thread @Abigail Spencer - it's nice to know we're all fumbling through adulting together! 😊

As someone who's been helping people navigate tax issues for years, I wanted to jump in with a practical perspective on this address question. The consensus here is spot-on - use whichever address ensures you'll reliably receive your tax documents. But I'd add one more consideration: if you're planning to itemize deductions (which is less common for new grads but worth mentioning), your actual residence address can matter for certain state and local tax deductions. For most recent grads in your situation, I'd recommend the parents' address approach for the reasons others have mentioned - stability and reliability trump everything else when it comes to tax documents. One pro tip: Regardless of which address you choose, set a calendar reminder for late January to follow up and make sure your W-2 arrived. I've seen too many people scramble in March because they assumed their W-2 was delivered when it actually got lost in the mail or sent to an old address. Also, since you mentioned you're navigating "real world" stuff - consider this your first lesson in documentation! Keep a copy of your completed W4 for your records, along with any address change notifications you submit later. Having that paper trail can save you headaches down the road. You're asking all the right questions - that attention to detail will serve you well as you navigate your career!

Hey @Abigail Spencer! Don't feel silly at all - this is exactly the kind of question we should all be asking when starting out. I'm also a recent grad and went through this same dilemma last year. From reading all the great advice here, it sounds like you've got two solid options. Given that you mentioned you're not sure how permanent your apartment situation will be, I'd lean toward using your parents' address for consistency. The peace of mind of knowing your tax documents will definitely reach you (through your parents) is worth a lot. One thing I'd add that hasn't been mentioned yet - if you do go with your parents' address, maybe set up a shared Google calendar event or reminder system with them for tax season. That way they'll know to expect your W-2 in January and can give you a heads up right away when it arrives. Also, definitely ask your new employer about electronic W-2 delivery like @Owen Devar suggested. More and more companies are offering this option and it completely eliminates the address concern! You're being really smart by thinking through all of this upfront. Welcome to the working world - you're going to do great! 🎉

This is such a helpful thread! As another recent grad who just went through this same confusion, I wanted to share what ended up working for me. I initially used my apartment address on my W4 because I thought that's what you're "supposed" to do, but then I moved unexpectedly in November and completely forgot to update my address with HR. When January rolled around, my W-2 got sent to my old apartment and the new tenants weren't very helpful about forwarding mail. I ended up having to contact my employer's payroll department to get a duplicate W-2 sent to my new address, which delayed my tax filing by almost a month. Such a headache that could have been easily avoided! Now I use my parents' address for all tax-related documents, even though I live independently. It's just so much more reliable, especially when you're in that post-grad phase where living situations can change quickly. The electronic W-2 suggestion that others mentioned is also brilliant - I switched to that option this year and it's so much more convenient. No worrying about mail delivery at all! @Abigail Spencer you're definitely not overthinking this - getting it right the first time will save you so much stress later. Good luck with the new job!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who's also navigating the transition from college to "real world" employment, I really appreciate how everyone has shared their experiences and practical advice. From everything I've read here, it seems like the key factors to consider are: 1. **Reliability** - Choose the address where you're most confident you'll receive important tax documents 2. **Stability** - Consider how likely you are to move in the next year 3. **Communication** - Make sure whoever receives mail at that address will promptly notify you when tax documents arrive The electronic W-2 option that several people mentioned sounds like a game-changer for avoiding these address concerns altogether. I had no idea so many employers offered this now! I also love the practical tips people shared, like setting calendar reminders to follow up on W-2 delivery and the mail forwarding service from USPS as a backup plan. These are exactly the kinds of "adulting" strategies I wish someone had taught me earlier. @Abigail Spencer - after reading all these responses, it sounds like you really can't go wrong either way as long as you choose the address where you'll most reliably receive your documents. The fact that you're asking these questions upfront shows you're thinking about this the right way. Best of luck with your new job!

Hey @Abigail Spencer! Congrats on the new job! 🎉 This is definitely not a silly question at all - I remember being so confused about this exact same thing when I started my first job after college. The W-4 address situation is something they really should teach us in school but never do! After reading through all the great advice here, I think the consensus is pretty clear: go with reliability over technicalities. Since you mentioned you're not sure how permanent your apartment situation will be, using your parents' address sounds like the smartest move. You can always update it later if your living situation becomes more stable. I especially liked the point someone made about setting up communication with your parents so they know to expect tax documents and will let you know right away when they arrive. Maybe even ask them to text you a photo of any tax-related mail so you know it's there! Also definitely ask your new employer about electronic W-2 delivery - it sounds like more and more companies are offering this option and it would completely eliminate the address concerns. You're being really smart by thinking through all of this ahead of time. Most people just fill out the W-4 without giving it much thought and then run into problems later. The fact that you're asking questions shows you're going to handle this whole "adulting" thing just fine! Good luck with everything! 😊

Hey @Abigail Spencer! First off, congrats on the new job - that's so exciting! 🎉 I totally get why this feels overwhelming, but honestly you're asking exactly the right questions. I went through this same situation when I graduated and it's definitely not something they prepare you for in college! After reading through all the great advice here, I think everyone's hit on the key point: reliability is everything when it comes to tax documents. Since you mentioned you're moving next month and aren't sure how long you'll stay at the new apartment, I'd definitely recommend going with your parents' address for now. Here's what worked for me: I used my parents' address for the first couple years after graduation while I was still figuring out my living situation. It gave me so much peace of mind knowing my W-2 would definitely reach me, especially during that phase where I moved twice in one year! You can always update your address with HR later once you're more settled. Also, definitely take the advice about asking for electronic W-2 delivery if your employer offers it. That completely eliminates the whole address concern and is way more secure than paper mail. The fact that you're thinking through all of this ahead of time shows you're going to handle the transition to working life really well. Don't stress too much about getting everything perfect right away - we're all learning as we go! Good luck with everything! 😊

Welcome to the working world, @Abigail Spencer! This is definitely not a silly question at all - I think most of us have been in this exact situation. I went through something very similar when I graduated. What helped me decide was thinking about it from a practical standpoint: where will I most reliably receive important mail over the next year? Since you mentioned you're moving next month and this is still a relatively new living situation, I'd lean toward using your parents' address for consistency. The W-4 address is really just about where you want your tax documents mailed, and the IRS doesn't care which one you choose as long as you can actually receive the mail there. Since young professionals tend to move around more frequently (I moved three times in my first two years after college!), having that stable "home base" address can be really valuable. One thing I'd definitely recommend is asking your new employer about electronic W-2 delivery if they offer it. That completely eliminates the address concern and you'll get your tax documents faster and more securely. Many companies are moving toward this option now. Whatever you decide, just make sure to communicate with whoever will be receiving mail at that address so they know to expect tax documents in January. And remember, you can always update your address with HR if your situation changes! You're being really thoughtful about this - that attention to detail will serve you well in your career. Good luck with the new job! 🎉