When you make a move, even if it’s down the street, there are a lot of tasks you have to do. key among them is a change of address with usps.
However, the redirection process does not always have the desired result; in fact, some mail may never reach your new mailbox.
so does the usps forward irs and other government mail, and does a usps change of address cover that type of mail? here is the answer you are looking for.
does usps forward irs & another government mail in 2022?
Unfortunately, the United States Postal Service does not forward mail from the Federal Government, including IRS, DMV, Social Security, or government checks. however, some post offices will, but that is the exception and not the rule. the best course of action after a move is to manually register a change of address with government agencies.
To find out why USPS doesn’t forward government mail, how you can make sure you get that government mail after you move, and if USPS forwards DMV mail, read on!
why doesn’t usps forward irs & another government mail?
While I can’t find a definitive answer, I can say that legally the USPS is not supposed to forward government-issued mail.
If I had to speculate why, it’s probably because government mail, including IRS mail, can be very sensitive.
Have you ever lost your social security card? happens, and you can request a new one online.
however, the only way the social security agency can get the physical card into your hands is through the mail.
Imagine if you were about to close on a new house and you had already registered your change of address.
let’s say the card was forwarded to its new address and some criminal element was out there checking the mailboxes of houses that had for sale/sold signs out front.
if they could steal your mail, they’d find your full social security number inside.
That would give them the ability to wreak havoc on your finances in a matter of days.
even removing unscrupulous neighborhood criminals from the equation, let’s say you’re moving from thousands of miles away.
Do you really want sensitive information like that sitting unprotected in a mailbox for a week? especially if your mailbox is near the street?
united states the federal government surely doesn’t. change is slow in government agencies, so it’s better for them to avoid mistakes, rather than having to fix them.
Government mail can also include large sums of money which, if it falls into the wrong hands, can result in you being scammed out of hundreds or thousands of dollars.
While inconvenient for newcomers, the federal government is being cautious about not allowing the USPS to forward your mail.
However, as long as the law exists, not all post offices necessarily follow it, so sometimes federal mail can end up being forwarded to a new address.
how does irs & usps government mail after a move?
People who have recently moved will tell you: there’s always that nagging feeling that something isn’t reaching their new address.
When dealing with the federal government or any of its agencies, such as the IRS, that feeling can be a source of great anxiety.
Therefore, it’s important to make sure the agency you’re likely to expect to receive mail from is aware of your new address.
yes, you have to inform them manually; the usps address change process is not enough.
one of the most common agencies is the irs. after all, we interact with them at least once a year, and during the covid-19 pandemic, it was more like a handful of times.
Here’s how you can make sure your mail gets to your new address.
If you have an IRS office near you, you can visit them. You can also call them at 1-800-829-1040 (7 am to 7 pm).
If you don’t want to visit or call, and you know time is on your side, you can fill out this change of address form and mail it in.
see here where you should send the form, based on your location.
If it’s tax season (January through mid-April), you can update your address with the IRS by simply using your new address when you file your taxes.
If you’re not looking for a permanent (or free) solution right away, you can also pay for a premium forwarding service through usps.
To sign up, you’ll pay $20.90 up front, then $22.75 per week for the service.
Please note that this is only a temporary forwarding service.
what mail does usps not forward?
Here is the list of some types of mail that USPS does not forward:
- government checks: stimulus, tax refunds, etc.
- anything from social security
- bulk mail/nonprofit mail
- light packages
- bound printed material
Regarding the first two items on the list, there are anecdotal stories of people receiving stimulus checks at new addresses, after the USPS has sent them.
this should be considered the exception and not the rule!
treat items like this as if you know for sure they won’t be forwarded. be proactive in informing government agencies that you have moved.
does usps send government refund checks?
As a rule, USPS does not send government-issued refund checks, whether for tax refunds or stimulus payments.
However, there have been anecdotal cases where an individual’s post office went ahead and mailed the checks.
While this sounds like they’re breaking the law, it’s more like speeding than committing a felony.
The best way to make sure your checks arrive at your new address is to file a change of address with the IRS.
you can find the options for that in the previous section.
Another thing to consider is changing your payment method to direct deposit.
This ensures that as long as you don’t change your bank account, the money will go directly to you, no address changes required.
does usps forward dmv mail?
The United States Postal Service does not forward Department of Motor Vehicles or DMV mail.
emails from the dmv can include highly confidential or personal material.
To eliminate any undue interruption in receiving mail from dmv, it is important to notify them as soon as possible of any change of address.
in fact, according to one source, you must legally notify the dmv within 10 days of occupying a new address.
This is an incredibly simple process that can be completed entirely online through your state’s dmv website.
In most cases, all you’ll need is your old and new addresses, and the site will walk you through.
there is a fee to change your address with the dmv, and it is different from state to state. (for example, in pa it’s $30.50; in mn it’s only $11.)
To learn more, you can also view our posts on whether or not USPS delivers to PO Boxes, whether USPS requires a signature, and whether USPS notarizes.
conclusion
The United States Postal Service does not, as a general rule, forward mail from government agencies, due to the highly confidential and personal nature of such mail.
Instead, the onus is on the recent mover to contact these agencies with their updated address, in a timely manner.