If you’ve recently married, you’ll need to do a few things to make sure you are paying the correct amount of income tax and that all information on your tax return matches the government agencies’ records.
Notify the Social Security Administration
It’s important that your name and Social Security number match on your next tax return, so if you’ve taken on a new name, report the change to the Social Security Administration. File form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card. The form is available on SSA’s website at www.ssa.gov, or stop into your local office to submit your updated form.
Notify the IRS if you move
IRS Form 8822, Change of Address, is the official way to update the IRS of your address change. You can download the form from www.irs.gov.
Notify the U.S. Postal Service
If you have moved, you’ll need to notify the U.S. Postal Service. Submit a forwarding request online at www.usps.com or visit your local post office.
Notify your employer by completing a W4 form
Report your name and/or address change to your employer(s) to make sure you receive your Form W-2, Wage, and Tax Statement, after the end of the year. You may also want to update your filing status and number of dependents to properly withhold income tax.
Talk with your CPA to determine which tax form to file
Before getting married, you may have filed the short forms since you may not have had many deductions. Now that you are married, you may have enough deductions for an itemized return. Charitable giving, mortgage interest, or other deductions may be enough to make it worth filing the longer return.
Now that you are married, there are many things that need to be updated. Don’t wait until the last minute or you may forget and then be surprised when filing your tax return.
Candy
