Per the IRS Tax Tip 2012-23, the following are five tips for recently married or divorced taxpayers with a Name Change:
1. If you took your spouse’s last name (or if you hyphenated your last names), then you may run into complications if you don’t notify the Social Security Administration. When newlyweds file a tax return using their new last names, IRS computers can’t match the new name with their Social Security number.
2. If you recently divorced and changed back to your previous last name, then you’ll also need to notify the SSA of this name change.
3. Informing the Social Security Administration of a name change is easy. Simply file a Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, at your local Social Security Administration office or by mail and provide a recently issued document as proof of your legal name change.
4. Form SS-5 is available on SSA’s website at https://www.ssa.gov/forms/, by calling 1-800-772-1213 or at local offices. Your new card will have the same number as your previous card, but will show your new name.
5. If you adopted your spouse’s children after getting married and their names changed, then you’ll need to update their names with the Social Security Administration too. For adopted children without SSNs, parents can apply for an Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number – or ATIN – by filing Form W-7A, Application for Taxpayer Identification Number for Pending U.S. Adoptions with the IRS. The ATIN is a temporary number used in place of an SSN on the tax return. Form W-7A is available on the IRS.gov website or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).
Again, please note that a mismatch between the name shown on your tax return and the SSA records can result in problems in the processing of your return and may even delay your refund.
This information provided to you from the Internal Revenue Service e-mail service mailing list. For more information, see www.irs.gov.
DISCLAIMER: THE INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THIS WEBSITE WAS PREPARED BY SODOMA LAW AND IS INTENDED FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND NOT, IN ANY WAY, CONSIDERED LEGAL ADVICE.
