How long does TDS take to post CAF#?

[taxmandan]

After a long hiatus in trying e-services with the IRS I went in today to post an 8821 for client and retrieve his wage & income transcript. But, after accepting everything, it refuses to give me transcripts saying there is a failure of the CAF#. Is there a lag time before the authorization (8821) gets active in the system? I was so hoping that this would be a quick and easy process, but....

[ChEAr$]

After a long hiatus in trying e-services with the IRS I went in today to post an 8821 for client and retrieve his wage & income transcript. But, after accepting everything, it refuses to give me transcripts saying there is a failure of the CAF#. Is there a lag time before the authorization (8821) gets active in the system? I was so hoping that this would be a quick and easy process, but....

After entering POA information, a couple of little dialog boxes pop up; first one saying "
processing......."
Then another saying something like "...successful".......

You did write down the unique number assigned to this didnt' you? Not sure of exact sequences, but something like xx-xxx-xx-xxxx-x
something like that. Using that number you can go back in within a certain number of days and complete the POA process.

[Koss]

Form 8821

I ran into this issue a couple years ago.

When I called e-services support, I was told that Form 8821 does not authorize electronic transcript delivery, and that this is some sort of "systemic" limitation. I was told that electronic transcripts were only available if the taxpayer had signed a Form 2848.

I then had the taxpayer sign a Form 2848, which I submitted electronically. After I did that, I was able to obtain the transcript.

That was a couple years ago. And it was an isolated incident. It is certainly possible that things have changed since then. It is also possible that I was given inaccurate information.

Since then, I have never used Form 8821. I have always used Form 2848 whenever I want to use e-services. And I haven't had that problem since then.

I did ask a couple questions. What I was told was that the electronic submission of Form 8821 was valid, but that it could not be used to obtain transcripts through e-services. Nevertheless, the electronic submission of Form 8821 was properly logged into the Central Authorization File.

This implies that if you call the IRS, or visit or an IRS office, they will be able to see the Form 8821 on file in the CAF.

You might try calling the IRS Practitioner Priority line. They should be able to see the Form 8821 in the CAF. You might be on hold for a half hour, but sometimes they can fax you a transcript on the spot. The number is 866-860-4259.

BMK

[Koss]

Further comments

If someone has successfully used Form 8821 to pull electronic transcripts, I would love to hear about it.

I understand the differences between Form 8821 and Form 2848. I think there are two big differences:

(1) Form 8821 only authorizes the designee to receive information from the IRS. It does not authorize the person to act on behalf of the taxpayer. In contrast, Form 2848 is just what it says: It is a limited power of attorney, which allows the agent to perform certain acts on behalf of the taxpayer. This carries with it certain responsibilities that do not arise with Form 8821. A power of attorney, in many cases, has the effect of imposing a fiduciary duty on the agent.

(2) Form 2848 can only be used by a Cir. 230 professional with the authority to practice before the IRS. So if the tax pro has a provisional PTIN or is an RTRP, Form 2848 can only be used when the tax pro is representing the taxpayer in an examination of a tax return that he or she prepared.

I readily concede that in some cases, a tax pro might not want to use Form 2848, even if he has sufficient authority to do so. But based on what I was told a couple years ago, transcripts through e-services are not available unless you use Form 2848.

What I don't understand is this:

How does e-services really work for someone who is not an attorney, CPA, or enrolled agent?

I know it is available, because IRS documents say that e-services is available to practitioners with an EFIN who file more than ten returns per year, or something like that.

But given the restrictions on those practitioners who are not EAs, attorneys, or CPAs, I have never understood how they could use the e-services platform.

I never used e-services until I became an enrolled agent.

Does anyone with a provisional PTIN or the RTRP licensure have access to e-services? What can you do with it?

BMK

[taxmandan]

I was hoping for too much

I finally called the Help desk and the 8821 is still not usable for obtaining transcripts online. I can enter it, but then have to call PHL to request a transcript. I thought they would have figured out a way to make this better but apparently not. I will not use a POA unless I have need to negotiate with theIRS, just to pull wage transcripts the 8821 should be sufficient. I had a client years ago accuse me of 'cutting a deal' with the IRS about his taxes. I was able to make it clear that I couldn't 'cut a deal' even if I wanted to, since an 8821 doesn't allow for that action, and I believe that actually saved me from litigation, he was that nuts.