A change of address checklist keeps a move from turning into months of missed bills, lost packages, and locked-out accounts. The moment you have a moving date, start two tracks at once: file your official U.S. Postal Service forwarding request, and work through a list of every agency, bank, and subscription that needs your new address. This guide covers the real USPS fee, the government deadlines that actually apply, and a clear warning about copycat websites that charge far more than they should. You will find a complete who-to-notify table, a step-by-step filing process, and the mistakes that trip up even organized movers. Whether you are moving across town or across the country, a written checklist turns a stressful logistics problem into a short list of five-minute tasks.
When to start your change of address checklist
Start your change of address checklist two to four weeks before moving day, and file your official USPS forwarding request about a week before you leave. Waiting until moving week almost guarantees a gap where mail keeps arriving at your old address after you are already gone.
Four weeks out, make the master list of who needs your new address, gather account numbers, and work through a round of decluttering before your move so you are not packing things you plan to replace anyway. A broader moving organization plan helps keep this checklist from getting lost among boxes and labels. Two weeks out, submit the USPS request and start notifying banks, insurers, and your employer, since those changes can take a billing cycle to fully process. During moving week, focus on government agencies and anything time-sensitive, like prescriptions and school enrollment. In the two weeks after you arrive, follow up with anyone who has not confirmed the change, and forward any mail that still shows up at the old place to whoever lives there now, if you know them.
How much does a change of address cost?
Changing your address with USPS costs $1.10 online as an identity verification fee, or nothing if you complete the form in person at your local post office, according to USA.gov. That fee is essentially the only cost tied to this entire process; nearly everything else on your list, from Social Security to your bank, is free to update.
The bigger cost risk is falling for a site that is not USPS at all. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service warns that fraudulent, look-alike websites can charge “up to $40” for the same change of address service, and in some cases the change is never actually filed. Only use usa.gov’s official change of address page or moversguide.usps.com, and check that the billing address on your card matches your old or new address, since USPS requires that match to verify your identity. The Postal Inspection Service’s scam warning is worth reading before you search for the form.
Who to notify when you move: the complete checklist
Beyond USPS, your change of address checklist needs to reach five kinds of contacts: government agencies, financial institutions, insurance providers, utilities, and the people and services that only know your old address. The table below breaks down when to update each one and roughly what it costs.
| Who to notify | When to update | How | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS mail forwarding | About 7 days before your move | usps.com/move or PS Form 3575 at a post office | $1.10 online, free in person |
| IRS | As soon as you move, or with your next return | Form 8822 by mail | Free |
| Social Security Administration | As soon as possible | Your my Social Security online account | Free |
| State DMV (license and registration) | Varies by state; New York requires 10 days | Online, by mail, or in person | Free to update; replacement card fees vary |
| Voter registration | Before your state’s registration deadline | Your state election office or vote.gov | Free |
| Banks, credit cards, and loans | Before your next statement | Online banking or a phone call | Free |
| Auto, home, or renters insurance | Before moving day | Agent, app, or phone | Free; may affect your premium |
| Employer and payroll | Before your next paycheck | HR portal or your manager | Free |
| Utilities, internet, and streaming | 1 to 2 weeks before move-out | Provider website or phone, or by finding local service providers at your new address first | Free to update; setup fees vary by address |
| Subscriptions, pharmacy, and memberships | Anytime before or after the move | Each provider’s account settings | Free |
How to file your official USPS change of address, step by step
- Decide your move type. USPS asks whether you are moving as an individual, a family, or a business, since each option routes mail differently.
- Go to the official source. Visit usps.com or moversguide.usps.com, or bring photo ID to your local post office and ask for PS Form 3575.
- Enter your old and new addresses. Double-check apartment or unit numbers, since a typo here is the single biggest reason forwarded mail goes astray.
- Verify your identity. Online, this means a $1.10 charge on a card whose billing address matches your old or new address, per USA.gov.
- Choose your start date. Pick the date you want forwarding to begin so mail redirects from the moment you leave, not from whenever you happened to file.
- Save your confirmation. USPS emails a confirmation code; keep it in case you need to verify, extend, or cancel the request later.
Updating government records: IRS, Social Security, DMV, and voter registration
IRS Form 8822
USPS forwarding does not automatically update your IRS records. Notify the IRS of a home address change using Form 8822, or simply enter your new address on your next tax return; either method is free and there is no separate fee for filing the form.
Social Security
If you receive Social Security benefits or want your records current, the Social Security Administration lets you change your address and direct deposit information through a personal my Social Security online account, without a phone call or office visit.
DMV: driver’s license and vehicle registration
Every state sets its own deadline for updating your address on a driver’s license and vehicle registration, so check your state DMV’s site rather than assuming a national rule. New York, for example, requires drivers to update their address within 10 days of moving, and some states can fine drivers whose license still shows an old address at a traffic stop. If you are settling into a new house, it is also worth changing the locks around the same time you update these records, since a previous owner or tenant may still have keys.
Voter registration
Update your voter registration through your state election office or vote.gov as soon as you know your new address. Every state has its own registration deadline ahead of an election, per USA.gov, so this is not a step to leave until the week before you plan to vote.
Where change of address plans go wrong
Most change of address problems come from timing and trust, not effort. Watch for these:
- Paying an unofficial site $20 to $40 for a service that costs $1.10 or nothing through USPS directly.
- Assuming USPS forwarding updates the IRS, Social Security, or your DMV record; each requires its own separate notification.
- Filing your USPS request on moving day instead of a week or more ahead, leaving a gap where mail goes nowhere useful.
- Forgetting mail-order pharmacy accounts, which can delay a prescription refill by days.
- Ignoring your state’s voter registration deadline until an election is already close.
- Missing an apartment or unit number on the USPS form, which sends mail to the wrong household at your new address.
Many of these same slip-ups show up in general moving mistakes to avoid: rushing the last week, skipping a written list, and assuming one company’s records automatically update another’s.
USPS forwarding vs. notifying every company yourself
These two approaches solve different problems, and most movers need both.
| Approach | What it covers | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS forwarding only | Redirects existing mail sent to your old address for a limited window | $1.10 online, free in person | A safety net while you update accounts directly |
| Notifying each company individually | Fixes the address at the source so future mail and billing go straight to your new home | Free, but time-consuming | Long-term accuracy on the accounts you use most |
| Combining both | Forwarding catches whatever you have not gotten to yet while your checklist is still in progress | $1.10 total | Nearly every mover; this is the recommended default |
File the USPS request first, since it costs almost nothing and starts working immediately. Then use your who-to-notify checklist to update the accounts that matter most, in roughly the order they appear in the table above.
Other things people ask
Is USPS change of address free?
Submitting your change of address online through USPS costs $1.10 as an identity verification fee, though filling out the form in person at a post office is free, according to USA.gov. Be cautious: some non-official websites charge as much as $40 for the same service and, per the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, sometimes never actually file the change at all.
Do I still need to notify the IRS if I already filed a USPS change of address?
Yes. USPS mail forwarding does not update your records with the IRS or any other government agency. File Form 8822 by mail, or update your address on your next tax return, so notices, refunds, and any correspondence reach you at your current home rather than your old one.
How soon after moving do I need to update my driver’s license?
Deadlines are set state by state, not federally, so check your own state DMV’s website for the exact window that applies to you. New York, for example, requires an address update within 10 days of moving, according to the New York DMV, and driving with an outdated license address can lead to a fine in some states.
Can I submit my USPS change of address before I actually move?
Yes. USPS lets you choose the start date when you submit your request, so you can file a week or more ahead and have forwarding begin exactly on your move-out date. Filing early, rather than on moving day itself, gives the request time to take effect before your last pieces of mail arrive.
What is the safest way to submit a change of address online?
Use only usps.com or moversguide.usps.com, or visit your local post office in person, to avoid paying a markup or exposing your card details to a scam. The Postal Inspection Service warns that unofficial look-alike sites can charge up to $40 for a service that costs $1.10 online, and some never file the change at all.
Start your checklist today
Pick a moving date, then work backward: file your USPS forwarding request about a week before you leave, and use the who-to-notify table above to work through government agencies, money matters, and everyday accounts in that order. None of these steps takes more than a few minutes on its own; the checklist just keeps you from forgetting one until a bill goes to the wrong house. Print the table, check items off as you go, and do a final sweep two weeks after you settle in to catch anything that slipped through.
