Social Security Name Change

[iteachkids81 1]

Hi everyone

I am Canadian, and originally came into the US on a work visa for a couple years.

Moved back to Canada while we did the immigration process and was married almost a year ago (2/28/09) In early March I went to the SS office to change my name on the card to my married name. They said it was too early and I needed to wait for my green card. I got the green card at the end of May and went back to the SS office to file the paperwork.

In August or September, I called SS and they said the paperwork was still being processed but that it was ok to use my married name with my SS# on my tax documents for work. The lady I spoke with said it could take a while because they have to send the documents back and forth through Canada....

Fast forward to now, we filed our taxes doing E-file, and it bounced back saying that the name on file does not match. How long should it take? I am going to call SS again on Monday and find out what is going on, but it just seems like this should have been finished a lot sooner. Anyone with similar experience please help.

[Otto 83]

It shouldn't take 10+ months (and I can't imagine what 'papers' are going back and forth to Canada).

Just to clarify - the PR/Green Card is in your married name correct?

** Am moving thread to "Working and Traveling Prior to..." (even though you already have your PR/Green Card) since virtually all SS# questions get the best responses there.

[I'm Gone 60]

.Moved back to Canada while we did the immigration process and was married almost a year ago (2/28/09) In early March I went to the SS office to change my name on the card to my married name. They said it was too early and I needed to wait for my green card. I got the green card at the end of May and went back to the SS office to file the paperwork.

In August or September, I called SS and they said the paperwork was still being processed but that it was ok to use my married name with my SS# on my tax documents for work. The lady I spoke with said it could take a while because they have to send the documents back and forth through Canada....

Fast forward to now, we filed our taxes doing E-file, and it bounced back saying that the name on file does not match. How long should it take? I am going to call SS again on Monday and find out what is going on, but it just seems like this should have been finished a lot sooner. Anyone with similar experience please help.

First off why are you taking tax advice from SSA? They have problems following their own procedures. The name and date of birth you use when filing Federal income taxes is matched against the SSN record date SSA sends to IRS. You might get away with some mismatches if you file the paper form, for example Mike for Michael, but when you e-file it must match.

http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=105969,00.html

If you filed an SSN application last May at an SSA office and it has not been cleared you need to go back into the office and talk to a manager. That office has dropped the ball. They just need to verify your immigration status/document and that shouldn't take at the most a couple months. No one needs to contact Canada to process your SSN application. You need to go into the office and talk to a manager.

If your Form I-551 (Green Card) was issued after you were married SSA considers the name on your Form Form I-551 your legal name.

Did you work and what is the name on your W-2? If you didn't work, just file your taxes with the name and date of birth that is on your SSN record.

http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199564,00.html

If you did work get you employer to file a W-2C, since you should have been working under the name on your SSN record and just make the name correction in pen on your W-2 and file your taxes.

http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/iw2cw3c.pdf

Correcting an employee’s name and/or SSN only. If you are correcting only an employee’s name and/or SSN complete Form W-2c through box i, as appropriate. Be sure to report the employee’s previously reported SSN in box f and/or previously reported name in box g. Do not complete boxes 1 through 20. Advise your employee to correct the SSN and/or name on his or her original Form W-2.