where do i mail my tax return
You mail your tax return to different addresses depending on your country, province/state, and whether you owe a payment or not.
Quick Scoop: Where do I mail my tax return?
1. First question: U.S. or Canada?
The phrase âtax returnâ plus âT1, T1â in your info suggests you might be talking about a Canadian T1 personal return, but the phrase is also extremely common for U.S. returns. Iâll cover both briefly so you can zero in on what applies to you.
If youâre in the United States
For U.S. federal returns (Form 1040 series), the mailing address depends on:
- The state or territory where you live
- Whether you are enclosing a payment or not
- Whether you are a resident or filing from abroad
How to find the exact IRS address
- Look at the âWhere to fileâ section in the instructions for Form 1040, 1040-SR, or 1040-NR.
- Or use the IRS âWhere to file paper tax returns with or without a paymentâ page and select your state and form number.
- If you are enclosing a check or money order, note there is often a different PO Box than when no payment is enclosed.
Common pattern (example only, not universal):
- Returns without payment from many states go to processing centers like:
- âDepartment of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, Ogden, UT 84201-0002â or âKansas City, MO 64999-0002â.
- Returns with payment often go to a PO Box in Louisville, KY, Charlotte, NC, or another payment center depending on your state.
Because these addresses change and are state-specific, always confirm the current address on the IRS site or the latest form instructions rather than copying an address from a third-party site.
If youâre mailing from outside the U.S.
- Many individual filers abroad send Form 1040/1040-NR to an IRS address in Austin, Texas, with or without payment, or to a specific street address when using a private courier.
- The exact address and any special rules are listed in the Form 1040 or 1040-NR instructions and on the âWhere to fileâ page.
If youâre in Canada (T1 return)
For a Canadian personal T1 paper return, the address depends on:
- Which province or territory you live in
- Whether you are a resident, nonâresident, or deemed resident
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) groups provinces/territories into a few processing centers, so each region has its own âWhere to mail your paper T1 returnâ entry.
How to get the correct CRA address
- Go to CRAâs âWhere to mail your paper T1 returnâ page (linked directly from CRA and many accounting sites).
- Choose:
- Your province/territory of residence on December 31 of the tax year, or
- Nonâresident/deemed resident options if applicable.
- Use that exact address (including any PO Box and postal code) on your envelope.
Tax pros often remind filers that even if you move, you use the address CRA lists for where you lived at yearâend , not necessarily where you live on the day you mail it.
Practical mailing tips (U.S. and Canada)
- Use the official tax authority website (IRS or CRA) to confirm the address the same day you mail; addresses and PO Boxes can change over time.
- Use a service with tracking or at least proof of mailing (e.g., certified mail, registered mail, or similar), especially near deadlines.
- Make sure:
- Return is signed and dated
- All slips and schedules are attached
- You use sufficient postage (returns can be several pages and over 1 oz).
Tiny example
Imagine you live in Ontario and file a paper T1: you would look up âWhere to mail your paper T1 return â CRA,â choose Ontario, and use the exact processing center address shown there. If instead you live in Texas and file a Form 1040 with a check enclosed, you would look up âWhere to file paper tax returns with or without a paymentâ on IRS.gov, select Texas and âindividual 1040,â and use the payment PO Box listed there.
If you tell me your country and state/province (and whether youâre including a payment), I can help narrow it down to the specific type of address you should be looking for on the official IRS/CRA pages.