American Expats: A Complete Guide to Keeping a US Mailing Address

If you're a US citizen living abroad — short term, long term, or permanently — you've probably already discovered that "just use my address in [country]" doesn't work for several important things. The IRS, the Social Security Administration, your bank, your brokerage, and your home state's elections office all expect a US address.

Here's the actual list of who needs what, and how to set up a US address that works across all of them.

1. Social Security and Medicare

The Social Security Administration will mail your benefits and notices to a foreign address — they have to, by law. But there's a catch: SSA payments can only direct-deposit to a US bank account, and US banks won't open accounts for customers without a US address.

Medicare is stricter. If you live outside the US for more than 6 months and you're on Medicare Part B, you can suspend coverage to avoid premiums — but you generally need a US mailing address to re-enroll without a late penalty when you move back.

What works: a real US street address (CMRA like us, friend or family's address, or your own US property if you have one). PO Boxes work for SSA notices but not for US bank accounts.

2. Voter registration

Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) lets US citizens abroad vote in federal elections via absentee ballot. You register in the state where you last had domicile before leaving the US — not where you currently live. Most states require a US address on the registration, usually your last US residential address.

Several states (Florida, Texas, Washington, others) have specific rules for "permanent expats" — you can keep voting using your last US address forever, as long as you intend to return. Other states (California, New York) get stricter after a few years.

What works: for federal elections, your last US residential address is fine. For state and local elections, rules vary — check your specific state's expat voter rules.

3. IRS notices and tax forms

US citizens owe US tax on worldwide income, period. The IRS will mail you correspondence — audit notices, refund inquiries, CP2000 notices, 1099 confusion — regardless of where you live. They'll mail to a foreign address if that's what you give them, but two things go wrong:

• International postal delays mean a 30-day IRS response deadline can arrive at your mailbox 25 days late. By the time you respond, the IRS has already assessed penalties.
• Several IRS notices require a physical US response address on file. You can still respond from abroad, but the notice system assumes you receive mail at a US address.

What works: a CMRA address that scans mail. The day the IRS notice arrives, you see it in your dashboard. You have 28 days to respond instead of 3. See our virtual mailbox for the scanning workflow.

4. US banking and brokerage

The strictest of all. US banks are required by federal "Know Your Customer" rules (Patriot Act + FinCEN) to verify customer addresses. A foreign address triggers FATCA reporting complications, and many banks (including most big retail banks — Chase, Wells, BofA) will close your account if you update to a foreign address.

Brokerages are stricter still. Schwab, Fidelity, and Vanguard all have policies on non-US-resident customers. Fidelity will not let an account holder change to a foreign address for tax-advantaged accounts (Roth IRA, 401k rollovers). Schwab International is the workaround if you want to be fully transparent — but they have a $25,000 minimum.

What works: keep a US address on your bank and brokerage accounts. Use scanning to read statements remotely. This is the single most important reason most expats keep a CMRA address.

5. State driver's license and identification

If you let your US state ID expire while abroad, getting a new one when you visit can take weeks (some states require multiple in-person visits, address proof, and a wait). Most expats renew online while abroad — but renewal requires a current US address on file.

What works: A real US street address (not PO Box) on your state ID. CMRAs work for most states. California, Florida, and Texas specifically accept CMRA addresses on driver's licenses.

6. Credit cards and credit score

Your US credit score depends on US credit accounts staying open and active. If you close your US cards when you move abroad, your score craters within a year. If you keep them, your statements still arrive at a US address.

Most expats keep 2-3 US credit cards open with autopay from their US bank. Statements go to a CMRA address. This is how you keep a 750+ score while living abroad and still qualify for a mortgage if you eventually move back.

What type of address works for what

• SSA / Medicare: any US address including PO Box
• IRS: any US address. CMRA strongly recommended for scanning.
• US bank accounts: real street address required, NOT a PO Box. CMRA works.
• Brokerage accounts: real street address. CMRA usually works — varies by broker.
• State ID / driver's license: real street address. CMRA accepted in CA, FL, TX, most other states.
• Voter registration: US residential address (last domicile). Your CMRA does not work for this — use your actual last residential address.
• Credit cards: any US address. CMRA recommended.
• Trademark (USPTO): requires a real domicile address that is not a CMRA or PO Box. This is the one place a CMRA doesn't solve the problem.

The expat address setup we recommend

Most expat customers we work with set up:

• 1. NOHO address as the mailing address on every US bank, brokerage, credit card, IRS file, and state ID.
• 2. Scanning enabled — every piece of mail is visible from anywhere within hours.
• 3. Forwarding configured to your foreign address monthly (or on-demand for anything urgent).
• 4. Voter registration kept at the last US residential address (not the CMRA — see above).
• 5. Domicile maintained in a no-state-tax state (FL, TX, WA, NV, etc.) if you have flexibility — saves state income tax on US-source income.

Costs around $25-$45/month depending on plan. Saves you from the bank closures, missed IRS notices, and brokerage transfers that are the actual expensive parts of expat life. See all plans.