# How to change your address with USPS

> Online versus the paper form, individual versus family, and everyone else you still need to tell.

Canonical page: https://bettrpdf.com/forms/usps-change-of-address  
This file: https://bettrpdf.com/forms/usps-change-of-address.md  
Site index for agents: https://bettrpdf.com/llms.txt



Updated 2026-10-24. Form: PS Form 3575 or online. Who files: Each person, or one for a family. Lasts: 12 months for first-class mail. Cost: About $1.10 online to verify ID; paper is free.

## What a USPS change of address is

USPS forwards mail from your old address to the new one when you file a change of address, either online at usps.com (with a small identity-check charge on a card) or with the paper PS Form 3575 from a post office. First-class mail and packages are forwarded for 12 months and periodicals for 60 days. Forwarding is a safety net: update your address directly with banks, employers, the IRS and the DMV.

## Every field

| Field | What goes in it |
| --- | --- |
| Individual or family | Family covers everyone with the same last name at the old address. Anyone with a different last name files their own. |
| Temporary or permanent | Temporary forwards for a set period and then stops; permanent is for a move. |
| Old and new address | Full addresses with apartment numbers. A missing unit number is the most common forwarding failure. |
| Start date | The first day you want mail forwarded. Allow 7 to 10 days for it to begin. |

## Mistakes that get it sent back

- **Filing only for yourself.** Roommates or family members with different last names need their own change of address.
- **Relying on forwarding.** Tax forms, ballots and some bank mail are not forwarded. Update those senders directly.
- **Forgetting the IRS.** File Form 8822 or use your new address on your next return so notices reach you.

## Terms

- Forms: PS Form 3575, IRS Form 8822, DMV change of address, Voter registration
- Who to tell: Banks, Employer and payroll, Insurance, Landlord, Subscriptions
- Who uses it: Renters, Homebuyers, Students, Families

## FAQ

**Is the online version a scam site?**

Use usps.com only. Third-party sites charge large fees for the same thing.

**Do I need to tell my landlord or employer separately?**

Yes. Forwarding does not update anyone's records; send your new address to payroll, your bank and your insurer yourself.

## Related guides

- [How to fill out a rental application](https://bettrpdf.com/forms/rental-application.md)
- [How to fill out a residential lease agreement](https://bettrpdf.com/forms/residential-lease-agreement.md)
- [How to fill out a direct deposit authorization](https://bettrpdf.com/forms/direct-deposit.md)