File taxes with a name mis-match?
Although not the same issue, I just tried to file taxes electronically for the first time a couple of days ago, and it wouldn’t go through, because there is a discrepancy between my stated birthday and the birthday on record with the social security office. So I went from having my refund in 1-2 weeks to having to go down to the social security office to fill out forms that will take about four weeks to resolve, before I can even file my taxes. What is interesting, however, is that this is an issue that never came up when I filed my taxes on paper. And I’ve been doing that for a couple of decades now. I suspect though that your situation is much more likely to be flagged with the IRS, if there is a discrepancy.
I have filed online and gotten refunds under circumstances very similar to yours for several years. My married name is Jane Public Doe. That’s what my SS card says, but my job, my bank and pretty much everybody else knows me as Jane Public. I file using the name Jane Public, but have filed using the full name in the past. The difference might be that my husband’s name is also on the form, or that I’ve been doing this for so long that it matches everything prior.
OK, the IRS is primarily concerned with your Social Security Number, but if there is a mismatch the computer may flag your return for manual processing. This could delay receiving a refund. If they have a problem they’ll send you a letter. (Lazy way out.) But to really get this fixed, go to the horse’s mouth. You need to refile Social Security form 5FS (See p.2, CHANGE OF INFORMATION.) A marriage certificate, for example, is sufficient for a spouse to prove change of identity, but a single person will probably need a court order. The consequence for not doing this could be a real snafu years down the road if your earnings are not collated into the correct account. (Imagine trying to get W-2s corrected for a defunct business.) For the IRS, it is simpler. File Form 8822 and fill out Line 5.
