Do you see a search or magnifying glass at the top of the screen? Type the words "personal information" in the Search, then a popup will come up with the option to "Jump to personal information". Select that.
No, you don't need to put your physical address on your tax return. Your mailing address is fine. Just make sure the state of residency is correct in the Personal Info tab section. Also, if you earned money in another state, make sure that is indicated there as well.
The other answer saying you can put your mailing address is incorrect. I have a mailing address in California, but live in North Carolina. Now California is telling me I need to file a tax return there since they've seen that my physical address is in California (despite me never having lived there).
The real answer is, if your physical address is in the same state as your mailing address, it doesn't matter what you put. If your physical address is in a different state than your mailing address, the other state will want to know why they didn't get a tax return filed for that state.
Thanks, can my address be a PO Box for filing? I have a physical address too but I like getting my mail at the PO Box.
Also, my roommate is low income getting government benefits and my income is very high, so I don’t want the IRS to get suspicious of two dramatically different tax filings from the same address
Yes, you can use a PO Box. You should use the address where you would like to receive checks and correspondence from the IRS.
Your tax filing and that of your unrelated roommate will not be linked or cause any suspicion at the IRS.
Hi Susan - thanks for your insights. I live abroad and worry my refund check will get lost. But I don't want the IRS to get confused and think I live in USA. Am I able to indicate a mailing address (local in US), different from my physical address (the address I provide to IRS so they know I live abroad)?
Thank you!
The address you use on the return MUST be where you securely get your mail no matter where you actually live. The IRS taxes total worldwide income so where you live is immaterial if you are a us citizen or resident alien.
Thank you Critter-3 !
The part I think is a catch, is that I am claiming Foreign Earned Income Exclusion - which is based strictly on where I live. But that has its own form, and in that form I have my foreign address ... so I guess that works. Thus, I can give my mailing address as local address. Do you figure the same?
Best to you!
This this this!!!! I put my mailing address as my parents, and it’s showing up on my 2017& probably my 2018 tax returns, and now Maryland wants to know why I didn’t file a return with them when the federal one was filed in Maryland when I actually lived with an ex boyfriend in Pennsylvania those years! He was abusive and stole all of my documents lol. I had to get a new birth certificate in 2019 to update my drivers license when i finally did move back home to Maryland. How did you get this issue resolved? Did you end up paying California taxes even though you really didn’t live there? 😩
Respond to MD that you just kept using your MD address even though you were living & working in PA ... then send them a copy of the PA return and copies of your W-2 forms with PA withholdings.
Taxes weren't owed in California since I never lived there, but I had to prove that my mailing address was a "virtual" mailing address and that I never had lived there. Basically sending over paperwork pleading for them to realize what happened, they reviewed it and send over a "we'll leave you alone now" type letter after a month. So, TurboTax is right that you can indeed put your 'mailing address' on your tax returns, but it's going to open a can of nasty worms in the event that state isn't the state you're claiming income in. Best of luck!
If IRS has to send you a notice, or, mail you a paper check, they need your mailing address !
Generally, this is where you live.
If you move, have the USPS forward your mail.
Hi. How did CA tax authority know that you had the address in CA? From IRS?
How did MD know you put your MD mailing address on your tax return?
Usually a state will see the tax reporting form that is sent to an address in their state so they go looking for the returns ... so if you use the MD "mailing" address to get your W-2 (or any other income reporting form) but do not file an MD return they may or may not question it. Of course you must prove your residency if they ask which can be messy.