Notice In Mail

[S T]

I really don't have any "guilty feelings" but there is just something that makes you have "heart palpitations" and "concern" when you go to the mail box, and personally addressed to my "husband and myself" from the IRS (return address) and it is noted on the outside of the envelope "NOTICE OF LEVY"

OMG - I am in the middle of renewing my EA License (delayed thanks to IRS) - have the PTIN #, etc, etc, etc.

I am thinking yes I filed my 2009 return, I paid all of the taxes, and I don't believe I received any notices of additional taxes due, I haven't received a CP 2000 notice for 2007, 2008, 2009,

"WHAT" the "H" - as I am walking up the driveway, trying to keep my composure to get into my office in my house.

So without alerting my Husband (as I take care of all of that in our household) I tried very calmly to come into my office, take a deep breath, and "slice open" the "very large 9 X 12 envelope ( my postal carrier is probably thinking, yes - RIGHT) and I prepare her taxes )

It was a "Notice of Levy" for a person that we issued a 1099 MISC Form to for some contract labor that we had done at our Commercial Rental Bldg.

Whew a "sigh" of relief, but it took me 5 minutes, to read through the package to find out what the "H" was going on.

IRS just needs to find a better way to issue these notices, without alarming the "recepient" of the "MAIL" and let the Whole World know about a "Notice of Levy" and I am thinking that "Notice of Levy" should not be written on the outside of the envelope.

Just thought I would share - this just goes with the other days in my life right about now

Sandy

[erchess]

Totally Agree

I have had a client get one of these and golly was he upset. He was only a little less upset when I showed him that it was a notice of a levy on a former contractor whose whereabouts were unknown. He did inform me that this person moves every few months, always working as a contractor, never having financial accounts, never getting mail forwarded, and laughing all the while at anyone who would pay income tax. Naturally I didn't put it quite that way in responding to the notice on my client's behalf but I think I made the point clear.

I have seen envelopes bearing notice to the addressee that a lien is about to be put on them but other than being addressed to them from the IRS there was no clue on the outside of what the inside contained.

But yeah something like "Request for information" would be more appropriate.

[WhiteOleander]

Yes, the IRS pulls these stunts all the while threatening practitioners with fines if they violate privacy!

[Mo Sheets]

Taxpayer Advocate Issue

I completely agree! I wonder if this is something that should be addressed via the Taxpayer Advocate's office. Obviously, you are not alone in feeling this way and I wholeheartedly agree that if privacy is important for us as preparers it should also be important for our government.

Mo

[appelman]

I've always thought...

...that the IRS should hire a psychologist to help them design their notices. There's something about the way their notices are structured that turns peoples brains to jelly and induces instant and total mental paralysis. The recent changes made to forms have been largely cosmetic and have failed to address the critical forms, which are those that, at least on the surface, threaten people with dire consequences. I believe that Nina Olson and her crew are well aware of the problem, though more complaints from the practitioner community can only help.

[JohnH]

...that the IRS should hire a psychologist to help them design their notices. There's something about the way their notices are structured that turns peoples brains to jelly and induces instant and total mental paralysis. .

Maybe they did hire a psychologist to help them at the outset, and the notices are achieving their desired goal...