Does Changing Your Name Impact Your Taxes?

A name change can have an effect on taxes. All the names on a taxpayer’s tax return must match Social Security records. A name mismatch can delay a tax refund.

Here’s what you should know if you changed your name during 2016:

• Reporting Name Changes Got married and now using a new spouse’s last name or hyphenate a name? Divorced and now back to using a former last name? In either case, notify the SSA (Social Security Administration) of a name change. That way the new name on IRS records will match the SSA records.
• Making a Dependent’s Name Change Notify the SSA if a dependent had a name change. For example, if a taxpayer adopted a child and the child’s last name changed. If the child does not have a Social Security number, the taxpayer may use an Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number on their tax return. An ATIN is a temporary number. Apply for an ATIN by filing Form W-7A (Application for Taxpayer Identification Number for Pending U.S. Adoptions), with the IRS.
• Getting a New SS Card File Form SS-5 (Application for a Social Security Card). The taxpayer’s new card will reflect the name change.