Q I was married in 2009. Is there anything special I need to do before filling my taxes this year?
A If you took your spouse’s last name or if both of you now hyphenate your last names, you may run into complications if you don’t notify the Social Security Administration. When newlyweds file a tax return using their new last names, but the Social Security Administration has the old last names, IRS computers can’t match the new name with their Social Security Number.
Similarly, individuals who were recently divorced and changed back to their previous last name need to notify the Social Security Administration of this name change.
If your husband adopted your children and their names changed, you’ll want to make sure this information was reported to Social Security Administration, as well.
Informing the Social Security Administration of a name change is easy; you’ll just need to file a Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card. Form SS-5 is available from the Social Security Administration or on my website at www.gurelcpa.com (Click the DOCUMENT CENTER tab.)
