Can I use a UPS mailbox for my employer?

Submitted by SmarterTogether t3_zzx77q in personalfinance

I recently moved to Washington state and I have been staying with my brother and I used his address for the time being.

I am going to be staying short term in an Airbnb and the owner is not comfortable with me using their address. To make matter worse my brother doesn't seem thrilled to be getting my mail mixed with his.

Anyway, I was thinking of just using a UPS address and making that my permanent address, however this would update the address my employer has for payroll (and how the taxes are impacted).

Since the addresses are all in the same state does anyone know if this will cause a problem? My goal is to just have my own consistent address while I lock down a permanent rental or buy a house.

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93195 t1_j2e2ws9 wrote

It’d probably be okay, although I think I’d leave your employment address at your brother’s for now. Mail doing that shouldn’t be more than one W-2 a year, if that (many deliver electronically now).

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SmarterTogether OP t1_j2e6pe5 wrote

Preferably I would like to leave it as his address, but I started getting things over the holidays letters, gifts, benefits, insurance, etc...all work/benefit related and it did pile up a bit. So I understand where he's coming from with his irritation and I frankly don't want there to be any negative association from this. I am already thankful he let use the address in the first place.

It sounds like from the gernal consensus of the responses changing to my UPS mailbox should be fine. This will also make managing my mail A LOT easier as I am going through temporary short term Airbnb's.

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AdditionalAttorney t1_j2eav7p wrote

Talk to your work. You can have a different mailing address vs your “physical” address for taxes.

We have packages that get stolen and use a ups mailbox for that. When my company has to send me like an extra keyboard they use my ups mailbox.

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SmarterTogether OP t1_j2ecfdl wrote

I asked about the two addresses (mailing and physical) and they said they would only accept one, otherwise this wouldn't be an issue at all -sigh-

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DeluxeXL t1_j2e2qh7 wrote

The address on record at your employer doesn't affect your actual tax liability. It just makes settings up tax withholding easier if they have a zip code to enter their payroll system. If the mailbox is in the same place as where you live, it should be fine.

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SmarterTogether OP t1_j2e5lgc wrote

My UPS mailbox is a different zip code than my brothers address (currently filed with my employer), but they are in the same city and state.

The Airbnb I am renting for a few months is in a different city, but same state.

I just want to make sure I am not causing any issues using my UPS mailbox which really makes managing my mail 1000x easier than having to continuously change addresses and risks mail going to the wrong place.

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DeluxeXL t1_j2e5wez wrote

> My UPS mailbox is a different zip code than my brothers address (currently filed with my employer), but they are in the same city and state.

It's fine as long as the employer is able to get the state and local tax withholding right. If not, you'll need to deal with getting the wrong local tax refunded and paying the right local tax.

> I just want to make sure I am not causing any issues using my UPS mailbox

There is just one caveat. UPS mailbox is considered a commercial address, so you can't do a USPS mail forwarding from it. If you ever stop renting the mailbox, you have to make sure to tell all senders instead of relying on mail forwarding.

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SmarterTogether OP t1_j2e7qkm wrote

Would there be any problems from the Airbnb being in a different city, but same state? My understanding with Washington state is it's much easier for my HR since they don't have state income taxes. So I'm hoping I can just keep the single/consistent ups mailing address until I land on my more permanent address. . Hm that's a good point on the mail forwarding, but I think I'll take the inconvenience of manually updating all the mail addresses on my part as opposed to tracking down all my pieces of mail going to multiple addresses ha

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beamglow t1_j2e6t91 wrote

have you considered a post office box at a location that allows the use of their street address?

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SmarterTogether OP t1_j2e89kg wrote

I have also considered this. Honestly I'm not really sure what the difference is between the UPS mailbox (used a street address) and some of the smaller companies nearby that rent mailboxes (with their street address).

It seems like the same thing, but just different costs.

My other concern is I don't know if my work will have any issue with that address showing a mailing facility on Google maps as opposed to a residence/apartment. I highly doubt they would look though and I'm not really sure if that plays a factor at all.

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[deleted] t1_j2e3r7v wrote

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DeluxeXL t1_j2e5jpo wrote

> Shouldn't cause a problem, but like others have suggested it's better to use a mailbox service instead of USPS. You won't be able to receive FedEx or UPS at those.

Pretty sure OP can receive UPS packages at a UPS mailbox.

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SmarterTogether OP t1_j2e65gp wrote

Sorry if I wrote USPS. That should have read UPS and I believe they accept all types of mail (FedEx, dhl, Amazon, etc).

The reason I was leaning UPS is because I've read the other mailbox service providers use "suite" and "pmb" in the address and I don't want that to concern my employer.

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[deleted] t1_j2e6fhu wrote

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SmarterTogether OP t1_j2e703j wrote

Which mail provider do you use? if you don't mind me asking that is.

Do they use "Suite" or just "PMB"? I read some people put "APT", but I like your idea of just using #105

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[deleted] t1_j2e813p wrote

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SmarterTogether OP t1_j2e9jeg wrote

That's helpful feedback thank you! I'll give them a call and find out what the lowest cost/smallest mail box runs for.

UPS quoted me $20/mo curious to see how they compare.

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AdditionalAttorney t1_j2eb4t2 wrote

Fwiw we LOVE our local ups. But since they’re franchises it probably matter based on location. We’ve had great customer service

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SmarterTogether OP t1_j2ect2e wrote

So far I've found the local ups employees friendly being in there a few times. Really my main focus areas are price, security, customer service/availability, and of course making sure this works smoothly from an operational standpoint (i.e. using it as my registered address with my employer).

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bros402 t1_j2ee6i1 wrote

Why not a PO Box instead?

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SmarterTogether OP t1_j2ef6p8 wrote

From what I've read they might be treated differently compared to the personal mailbox addresses.

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mekistein t1_j2e2pln wrote

Should be an issue. There are providers online that have real addresses. Use those

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SmarterTogether OP t1_j2e5p63 wrote

Any suggestions for a good provider for Washington state? Does it matter if the provider has a different city in Washington as their address?

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