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Address Change After Moving Handled Step by Step

Sep 3, 2023 | Moving Tips

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Home » Moving Blog » How to Change Your Address When Moving (Part 1)

To change your address after moving, start with three agencies: the United States Postal Service, the Florida DMV, and the IRS. The USPS allows online submission or an in-person form at any post office, Florida gives residents 30 days to update their driver's license through the DMV's virtual office, and the IRS requires written notification using Form 8822.

Once you know your new address, you can start notifying people right away. Once the move is actually done, you really should. Here is a practical rundown of where to start. This is part 1, so we will cover more ground in the next post.

how to change your address when moving - writing address on envelope

The United States Postal Service – USPS.com

USPS lets you handle this entirely online. You can submit an address change request through their website, and they also offer Premium Forwarding Services so mail from senders who do not yet have your new address still reaches you.

If you would rather do it in person, visit your local post office and pick up their free Mover’s Guide, which includes PS Form 3575.

Still have questions? The USPS Change of Address FAQs cover the common ones.

Drivers License and Vehicle Registration (Florida)

Florida gives you 30 days after moving to update your driver’s license. The quickest way is through the DMV’s Virtual Office online. You can also go into a local DMV office if you prefer. The FLHSMV website (Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles) has the full details on name and address changes.

IRS

The IRS needs your current address on file. Unlike the other agencies above, this one has to be done in writing, either by letter or by submitting Form 8822 and, if applicable, Form 8822-B for businesses. Depending on timing, you may also be able to update your address when you file your next tax return. The IRS website walks you through the options.

From your old home to your new address: We take care of your move!

Check back for part 2, where we cover more of the places you need to notify when you change your address.

Brothers Easy Moving of Tampa serves Tampa, Riverview, St. Petersburg, and the surrounding Tampa Bay area. If you want to talk through what your move involves, reach out here or call us at (813) 505-2560.

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Questions this post answers

Frequently asked

Frequently Asked Questions

Florida law gives you 30 days from your move date to update the address on your driver's license. You can do it through the DMV's Virtual Office online without visiting a branch, which matters if you just moved across Hillsborough or Pinellas County and your schedule is already packed.

Missing that window does not immediately cancel your license, but driving with an outdated address can create headaches if you are ever pulled over, so it is worth handling it the same week you finish unpacking.

USPS lets you set a future start date when you submit a change of address, so you can file it a week or two before your move and have forwarding kick in right around the time you leave your old place. That gap matters because some senders, like your bank or a Tampa utility company, may take a billing cycle or two to update their records.

Forwarding is a bridge, not a permanent fix. Senders who never get your new address will eventually stop having their mail forwarded, so updating each account directly is still the real goal.

Yes, they are completely separate processes. USPS forwarding does not notify the IRS of anything. The IRS requires written notice, either through Form 8822 for individuals or Form 8822-B for businesses, or you can include your new address when you file your next tax return if the timing lines up.

If you are expecting a refund check mailed to your old address and you have not filed the form yet, that check could end up at the wrong place. Filing Form 8822 as soon as you settle in is the safer move.

If you filed a USPS change of address, standard first-class mail gets forwarded to your new address for up to 12 months. Magazines and catalogs follow different rules and may not forward at all, depending on how the sender has them classified. Packages sent via certain carriers also do not automatically forward through USPS.

The forwarding period buys you time, but it is not a substitute for contacting each sender directly. Working through your accounts one by one during the first month after your move is the most reliable way to make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

Want a straight answer for your own move? Call or text (813) 505-2560, request a free estimate, or send us a note. A Brothers estimator replies, not a bot.

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