This is your Member Reference Number (MRN). You’ll need to provide this when you make an appointment with an EAP counselor or contact your EAP by phone.

Carelon provides automatic translation into multiple languages, courtesy of Google Translate. This tool is provided for your convenience only. The English language version is considered the most accurate, and in the event of a discrepancy between the translations, the English version will prevail. This translation tool is not controlled by Carelon, and the Carelon Privacy Statement will not apply. Please read Google's privacy statement. If you want Google to translate the Carelon website, select a language.

Tax Tips for Name Changes

If you changed your name as a result of a recent marriage or divorce you'll want to take the necessary steps to ensure the name on your tax return matches the name registered with the Social Security Administration (SSA). A mismatch between the name shown on your tax return and the SSA records can cause problems in the processing of your return and may even delay your refund.

Here are five tips from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for recently married or divorced taxpayers who have a name change:

  1. If you took your spouse's last name or if both spouses hyphenate their last names, you may run into complications if you don't notify the SSA. When newlyweds file a tax return using their new last names, IRS computers can't match the new name with their Social Security Number (SSN).
  2. If you were recently divorced and changed back to your previous last name, you'll also need to notify the SSA of this name change.
  3. Informing the SSA of a name change is easy; you'll just need to file a Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Card at your local SSA office and provide a recently issued document as proof of your legal name change.
  4. Form SS-5 is available on SSA's website at http://www.socialsecurity.gov, by calling 800-772-1213, or at local offices. Your new card will have the same number as your previous card, but will show your new name.
  5. If you adopted your spouse's children after getting married, you'll want to make sure the children have an SSN. Taxpayers must provide an SSN for each dependent claimed on a tax return. For adopted children without SSNs, the parents can apply for an Adoption Taxpayer Identification Number—or ATIN—by filing Form W-7A, Application for Taxpayer Identification Number for Pending U.S. Adoptions with the IRS. The ATIN is a temporary number used in place of an SSN on the tax return. Form W-7A is available on the IRS Web site at http://www.irs.gov, or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (829-3676).

Internal Revenue Service. (Updated 2013, November 4). IRS Tax Tip 2011-23. Five tips if you changed your name due to marriage or divorce. Retrieved November 7, 2016, from http://www.irs.gov/

More about this Topics

  • Do a "Paycheck Checkup"

  • Your Social Security Number and Card: Checking Your Records

  • Earned Income Tax Credit

  • Marriage and Your Premium Tax Credit

  • Two Tax Credits Help Pay Higher Education Costs

Other Topics

    • Bankrate
    • Preparing for a Disaster (Taxpayers and Businesses)
    • American Bar Association
    • Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) & the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) Programs
    • Prior Year Tax Information With <em>Get Transcript</em>
    • Where's My Refund?
    • Tax-Time Scams
    • How to Choose a Tax Return Preparer
    • Foreign Tax Credit