10 Helpful Tips for Updating Your Address After a Move

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Your new home offers everything you’ve dreamed of: a prime location, a welcoming community, a beautiful backyard, and those charming Cape Cod dormers. But before you can fully enjoy it, there’s a lot of work to be done.

Whether you’re moving locally or across the country, the process can be overwhelming. There are utilities to disconnect and reconnect, a moving company to choose (or a group of friends to recruit), and items to return to neighbors or retrieve from them. And let’s not forget about all that packing.

In the midst of all the chaos that comes with settling into a new home, updating your address may seem like a small, unimportant task. However, it’s actually a crucial step in maintaining some semblance of order while you dig through boxes searching for your black shoes.

Here are a few tips to help make the process of changing your address a little less stressful.

10: Double Check Your Address

This is one detail you can’t afford to mess up, right? Don’t be too confident. With the stress of moving, the many properties you’ve considered, and the busyness of the process, errors are more common than you might think.

Begin by confirming your new address with your landlord or realtor. Ensure that the house or apartment number, as well as the street and city names, are correct. If you’re moving into new construction, verify that the street name hasn’t been changed by the developer from what was initially filed.

Check how the post office processes your mail by reviewing the street and city names for accuracy. This is also a good chance to get your zip + 4 code if you don’t have it yet. Using zip + 4 will speed up mail delivery and improve its accuracy.

By taking the time to verify your address, you can prevent errors, save time, and avoid the awkwardness of needing to change your address again.

9: Decide Between Temporary or Permanent

If you're in the United States, one of the first things you’ll need to do when moving is notify the U.S. Postal Service. Before you proceed, you’ll need to choose whether you want to submit a temporary or permanent change of address (COA).

A permanent COA will ensure your mail is forwarded to your new address for a set period. It includes first-class mail and periodicals, but typically does not cover standard mail like circulars or catalogs. With a permanent COA, your updated address is shared with companies subscribing to the National Change of Address Service and is available to business mailers upon request.

If you're planning to spend winter somewhere warmer or summer in a cooler location, a temporary COA might be the perfect choice. This service forwards first-class mail and periodicals to a different address for a specified period, ranging from 15 days to 6 months. You can also extend it up to 12 months if you decide to stay away longer.

As an alternative to the temporary COA, premium forwarding service sends all your mail—standard mail and packages included—in one shipment every Wednesday via priority mail. There’s a one-time enrollment fee and a nominal weekly reshipment fee for this service.

Unlike the permanent COA, with the temporary options, your updated address will not be shared with business mailers. This helps you avoid receiving junk mail.

8: Notify the Post Office

When you move, it's crucial to inform the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). You can notify them in one of three ways:

Once you've filed the change, a move validation letter will be sent to your old address, unless you’ve already relocated. Additionally, 7 to 10 days after your COA’s effective date, a confirmation letter will arrive at your new address, along with a welcome kit containing useful information, a community guide, and some special offers and coupons.

7: Ensure All Household Members Are Covered

When updating your address with the U.S. Postal Service, make sure to include everyone who is moving with you. Failing to include your spouse’s name, for instance, means their mail won’t be forwarded. Depending on your situation, it may require a bit more effort.

If only some members of your household with the same last name are moving, but others are staying, complete a separate address change form for each person using the "individual" option. The same goes for members with different last names moving while others stay behind. However, if your entire family is relocating and everyone shares the same last name, filling out a single form using the "family" option will ensure all mail is forwarded to everyone.

6: Be Aware of Your Timeline

Mail forwarding periods vary depending on the type of mail being forwarded, and each type is handled in its own way.

First-class and priority mail will be forwarded for up to 12 months free of charge, as long as the sender didn’t mark the mail with a non-forwarding note like "do not forward". From months 13 to 18, the mail will be returned to the sender with your new address. After 18 months, the mail will be sent back to the sender without any forwarding.

The forwarding and return procedure for express mail follows the same timeline as regular mail. It also maintains its expedited delivery service; however, the delivery guarantee is void once the mail is forwarded.

Magazines and newspapers will be forwarded at no extra cost for up to 60 days. After this period, the system will handle them according to the type of address change you’ve filed. If you filed a temporary change of address, your periodicals will be disposed of after 60 days. For a permanent change of address, they will be sent back to the sender with your new address.

Around 7 to 10 postal business days after settling in, your mail will start arriving at your new address. If it doesn’t, it's time to call 1-800-ASK-USPS.

5: Create a Checklist

Mail forwarding helps ensure that you continue receiving your mail and provides you with time to inform everyone of your new address. This includes businesses you deal with and people you wish to stay in touch with.

For completeness, it's a good idea to create a list. Here’s a selection of people and organizations to include:

To ensure you don’t miss anyone, cross-check your list with the mail you receive daily. Keep envelopes and mailing labels so that you have the addresses readily available when sending out change-of-address notifications.

After your move, you might realize that you overlooked a few contacts. Keep the yellow address change stickers used by the post office for mail forwarding so you can identify those you still need to notify.

4: Simplify the Process

To keep receiving mail after the post office stops forwarding it, begin notifying everyone who sends you mail at least two weeks before your move. If the list of people and businesses is long, dedicate an hour or two each day to complete the task.

To save time, change your phone number before updating your address with anyone. Many organizations will ask for both at the same time. If you haven't updated your phone number yet, you'll need to contact them again.

There are several ways to inform others about your move. Many bills and statements have sections for address changes or provide instructions on how to notify the company. Consider emailing your employer or visiting your HR department to ensure you still receive your W-2s and timely paychecks. Stationery stores and card shops offer specially designed cards to announce your new address to family and friends. For everyone else on your list, use the change-of-address cards available at the post office to make the process easier.

3: Remember Uncle Sam

If you don’t receive regular mail from government agencies, they might slip your mind when updating your address. Be sure to include them in your notifications.

It’s important to inform the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of your address change, especially if you're expecting a tax refund. You can download Form 8822 from their website and mail it to the listed address. Alternatively, send a letter to the IRS center where you filed your last return with your full name, old and new addresses, Social Security number, and signature. If you file jointly, both you and your spouse must provide the necessary details and signatures. In the case of separate residences, both of you must notify the IRS individually.

Ensure you continue receiving your disability, retirement, or survivor benefits by visiting the Social Security Administration's website to update your new address and phone number for contact purposes.

Regardless of whether you're moving to a different state, make sure to update the address on your driver's license, as it’s often required for identification purposes. You’ll also need to change your address on the vehicle registration and contact the state's election office to update your voter registration. Most of these updates can be done either by mail or online. Be sure to visit your state’s website for detailed instructions on the process.

2: Consider Letting Someone Do It for You

If you don't have the time or inclination to handle the change of address notifications when you move, there are services available to manage it for you.

An online address change service can save you valuable time and reduce the stress of relocation by informing all your relevant organizations, billing companies, and memberships of your new address. You can choose which entities to notify from a comprehensive database of thousands. This service also helps you manage magazine subscriptions, utility services, and even removes your name from junk mail lists.

Before enrolling in any online address change service, make sure to research it thoroughly. Ensure they have strong security protocols in place, such as secure servers and bonded personnel. You can also consult the Better Business Bureau for information about the service’s reputation and customer complaints.

1: Don't Forget the Less Obvious

When you think about updating your address, the first thing that comes to mind is usually your mail. However, there are several less obvious places that also need your attention:

Moving can become overwhelming at times. If the stress starts to pile up, take a moment to think about your new home, smile, and remind yourself that this will all soon be behind you.