ReceivePoint

Change of Address Checklist: Everyone You Need to Notify When Moving

Moving is one of the most address-intensive events in a person's life. Your address touches more systems than most people realize — government databases, financial institutions, healthcare providers, subscription services, and dozens of online accounts — and none of them talk to each other. When you move, you have to tell each one individually. This checklist organizes every place you need to notify, when to do it, and how.

When Should You Start Changing Your Address?

Start earlier than you think. Most people wait until moving week, which creates a gap where important mail — tax documents, financial statements, insurance cards — goes to the wrong address.

6–8 weeks out

Begin notifying government agencies and financial institutions. These take the longest to process and involve the most critical documents.

4 weeks out

File your USPS mail forwarding request. USPS requires at least 7 days' notice, but earlier provides a better buffer for in-transit mail.

2 weeks out

Update subscriptions, online retailers, and streaming services. Any active shipments scheduled near your move date need to go to the right address.

Moving week

Notify your employer's HR department, schools, and personal contacts.

After your move

Verify key accounts updated correctly. Check for any mail still arriving at your old address.

Step 1: Start With USPS Mail Forwarding

Filing a USPS Change of Address is the foundational first step. When you submit Form 3575 through usps.com/move, USPS adds your change to the National Change of Address (NCOA) database — a central registry that some mailers use to automatically update their records.

Three important things to know before you file:

  • You can file for a permanent or temporary change of address. A permanent COA stays in the NCOA database for 48 months. A temporary COA covers stays of 15 days to 1 year.
  • The forwarding period for First Class Mail is 12 months. After that, mail is returned to the sender with your new address printed on the envelope.
  • USPS Informed Delivery — the service that emails you previews of incoming mail — is a separate account. Update your address in your Informed Delivery settings at informeddelivery.usps.com.

Filing costs $1.10 to verify your identity online. File directly at usps.com/move. Third-party sites offering address change services often charge significantly more for the same result.

Government Agencies to Notify When You Move

IRS

Your W-2, tax refund checks, and IRS correspondence all go to the address on file. File Form 8822 (Change of Address) with the IRS, or update your address on your next tax return. If you are expecting a refund, file Form 8822 immediately — refund checks are not forwarded by USPS.

State DMV

Most states require you to update your driver's license address within 10 to 30 days of moving. This is a legal requirement in most states, not just a recommendation. Update your vehicle registration at the same time. Many states allow both through your state DMV's online portal.

Social Security Administration (SSA)

If you receive Social Security benefits, update your address at ssa.gov/myaccount or call 1-800-772-1213. Medicare correspondence goes through SSA, so this update covers Medicare as well.

Voter Registration

You must update your voter registration in your new county or state. Visit vote.gov to find your state's registration portal. Moving to a new state requires re-registering entirely.

Veterans Affairs (VA)

If you receive VA benefits or use VA healthcare, update your address at va.gov or call 1-800-827-1000. VA benefit payments and correspondence do not forward through USPS.

USCIS

Non-US citizens with pending immigration cases or benefit applications must notify USCIS of an address change within 10 days by filing Form AR-11 at uscis.gov. This is a legal requirement.

Selective Service

Men aged 18 to 25 are required by federal law to keep their Selective Service registration address current. Update at sss.gov.

Financial Institutions and Credit Cards

Banks and credit unions

Update directly with each institution through online banking or their mobile app. Paper statements, debit cards, and loan correspondence go to the address on file.

Credit card companies

Each card issuer maintains a separate address record. Update through each card's online account portal. Your bank's address update does not carry over to credit cards — they are separate systems.

Mortgage lender or servicer

Your monthly statement and Form 1098 (mortgage interest) come from your loan servicer. Update through your servicer's online portal.

Investment accounts, IRA, and 401(k)

Brokerage statements, 1099s, and retirement account correspondence require direct updates. Log into each separately: brokerage, IRA, 401(k) administrator, HSA, and 529 plan.

Credit bureaus

This is one of the most commonly skipped steps and one of the most consequential. Update your address directly with Equifax (equifax.com), Experian (experian.com), and TransUnion (transunion.com). Your credit file address affects address verification for new accounts and can delay financial applications if it does not match your actual address.

E-ZPass and toll authorities

Incorrect billing addresses can result in violation notices and fees. Update through your toll account portal.

Utilities and Home Services to Transfer or Cancel

For each utility, contact your new provider before moving in and your old provider to close or transfer the account. Overlapping service by a few days is preferable to a gap.

  • Electric — contact both old and new provider
  • Gas — contact both old and new provider
  • Water and sewer — typically managed by municipality
  • Internet and cable — schedule disconnection and installation dates together
  • Trash and recycling — contact new municipal service
  • Home security monitoring — transfer or cancel service
  • HOA — if applicable at old or new address

Employer, Payroll, and Benefits Providers

Your W-2 goes to the address your employer has on file at year-end, regardless of USPS mail forwarding. Update with HR or payroll immediately — do not wait for open enrollment.

  • HR department — payroll address for W-2 and direct deposit
  • Health insurance (employer-sponsored) — contact the insurer directly, not just HR
  • Dental and vision insurance
  • Life and disability insurance
  • 401(k) administrator (Fidelity, Vanguard, Empower, etc.)
  • FSA and HSA administrator — reimbursement checks go here

Healthcare and Insurance Providers

Healthcare providers

Update with each provider's office directly: primary care physician, dentist, specialists, and pharmacy. If you use auto-refill on prescriptions, medication shipments will go to the address on file with your pharmacy.

Health insurance

If you have individual or marketplace insurance, update through your insurer's member portal and through Healthcare.gov if applicable. Moving to a new area can affect your plan options and subsidy eligibility.

Auto and property insurance

Auto insurance rates are partly based on where you garage your vehicle. Moving can change your premium. Notify your insurer immediately — failure to update can affect claims. If you are renting, you need a new renters policy for your new address. If you are buying, your lender requires updated homeowners insurance before closing.

Subscriptions, Online Accounts, and Memberships

This is the category most people underestimate. The number of accounts with a saved delivery address has grown with ecommerce to a degree most people do not fully track until they find a package delivered to the wrong address.

  • Amazon — update default shipping address in Account settings. Also check Amazon Fresh, Amazon Pharmacy, and Subscribe & Save separately.
  • Walmart, Target, Best Buy, Chewy, Petco, and any other retailer with a saved shipping address
  • Subscription boxes — HelloFresh, Blue Apron, Dollar Shave Club, and others ship on schedules. Update well before your next shipment date.
  • Apple ID — billing address in App Store account settings
  • Google Account — billing address in Google Pay settings
  • Streaming services — address is used for billing and tax calculation
  • Airline frequent flyer accounts
  • Hotel loyalty programs
  • Retail loyalty programs

What USPS Mail Forwarding Does Not Cover: Package Carriers

Here is the gap that catches most people off guard. USPS mail forwarding covers First Class Mail and most USPS packages. It does not cover FedEx shipments, UPS shipments, or packages shipped through Amazon Logistics. If a retailer ships your order via FedEx and your FedEx account still shows your old address, that package goes to your old address. USPS cannot intercept it.

For FedEx shipments, your delivery address is set in your FedEx Delivery Manager account. For UPS, it is in your UPS My Choice account. For Amazon orders, your default shipping address is set at the account level. Each is a separate system. Each must be updated separately.

This fragmentation — where every carrier and every retailer maintains its own address record independently — is exactly the problem ReceivePoint was built to solve. Instead of updating 30+ accounts, you register your address once on ReceivePoint and every connected carrier and platform receives the update. You can also mark your old address as unavailable during your move window so carriers hold deliveries rather than dropping them at an empty house.

Join the ReceivePoint waitlist

Personal Contacts: Friends, Family, and Schools

  • Children's schools and daycares — enrollment records, emergency contacts, and district assignment are tied to your address. If you are changing school districts, initiate transfer paperwork early.
  • Places of worship — if your congregation mails correspondence or giving statements, contact the office directly.
  • Friends and family — a moving announcement, even a simple group message, handles this efficiently.

Complete Change of Address Checklist

Use this checklist to track every update. Print or save as PDF.

Frequently Asked Questions About Changing Your Address

How do I change my address with USPS when moving?

Go to usps.com/move and submit Form 3575 online. You will pay $1.10 to verify your identity. This begins forwarding First Class Mail from your old address to your new one. File at least 7 days before your move date, but 4 weeks ahead is better.

Who do I need to notify when I change my address?

The full list includes USPS, the IRS, DMV, Social Security Administration, voter registration, every bank and credit card, utility providers, your employer's HR and payroll department, healthcare providers, insurance companies, online retailers, subscription services, and personal contacts.

How far in advance should I change my address before moving?

Start 6 to 8 weeks before your move for government agencies and financial institutions. File USPS forwarding at least 7 days before your move date, though 4 weeks is the recommended buffer.

How do I update my address with the IRS?

File Form 8822 with the IRS by mailing it to the address listed in the form instructions, or update your address on your next tax return. If you are expecting a refund, file Form 8822 immediately — refund checks are not forwarded by USPS.

What happens if I forget to change my address somewhere?

USPS mail forwarding will catch most First Class Mail for 12 months, but it does not cover FedEx or UPS shipments. Financial documents may be delayed or sent to the wrong address. For critical accounts like the IRS, mortgage lender, and insurance companies, address errors can have real financial consequences.

Do I need to update my address with the DMV after moving?

Yes, and in most states it is legally required within 10 to 30 days of moving. Failure to update can result in fines and can affect your auto insurance coverage if you are in an accident and your registered address does not match your actual location.

About ReceivePoint

Update your address once. Every carrier and store follows.

ReceivePoint is a delivery address registry that lets individuals and businesses manage their address and availability in one place. When you move or go out of town, every connected carrier and platform updates automatically. Free for individuals and businesses.

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