Tax Tips For Those That Recently Changed Their Names

If you recently changed your name (most commonly due to a recent marriage or divorce), the following are some valuable IRS tax tips to follow to ensure your tax return is not negatively impacted due to the name change:

1. If you took your spouse’s last name — or if you hyphenated your last names — you may run into complications if you don’t notify the SSA. When newlyweds file a tax return using their new last names, IRS computers can’t match the new name with the Social Security number.

2. If you recently divorced and changed back to your previous last name, you’ll also need to notify the SSA of this name change.

3. Informing the SSA of a name change is easy. Simply file a Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card, at your local SSA 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 http://www.socialsecurity.gov/, by calling 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, you’ll need to update their names with SSA too. For adopted children without SSNs, the 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 website at www.irs.gov or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800.829.3676).

If you require assistance filing any name change application, an R&G Brenner professional can assist you by contacting us here.

Source: IRS.gov