Letter 4883C

[Uncle Sam]

A tax client, age 21, just received a Letter 4883C from IRS saying "We need more information from you to verify your identity and tax return information so we can continue processing your tax return and issue a refund...etc.?"
Since I prepared the 2022 return being designated as the Third Party Designee, will the IRS be willing to speak to me, or will it insist on speaking to the client directly? Or 3-way conversation?
What are the questions that are typically asked in this case?

[Rapid Robert]

If they are trying to verify identity, how would they be able to trust you? For all the IRS knows, you are the one who filed a fraudulent return.

Is there some reason why a 21 year old can't respond directly?

[Uncle Sam]

Fear of talking to an IRS person. Inexperience.

[New York Enrolled Agent]

Third Party designation is to discuss processing problems. The identity verification would not be covered under that provision.

I believe a valid POA on behalf of the taxpayer will enable you to verify the ID.

[FEDUKE404]

I'm with Rapid Robert. The adult should be able to call the telephone number shown on the letter, answer a few specific questions, and the problem would be quickly resolved.
Just curious what software Uncle Sam used to efile. Did it transmit such things as DOB, prior year AGI, driver license info, et al?

[Uncle Sam]

Drake. I've been preparing her returns for 3 years so all that data is in the software program.

[Rapid Robert]

"I believe a valid POA on behalf of the taxpayer will enable you to verify the ID."

But the two people who signed the POA (taxpayer and representative) are the same two people who signed the tax return. That just kicks the problem down the road. When you call on the phone, how does the IRS authenticate that you are the person who was granted POA? This now turns an ID verification process for one person into a double process for two people.

"Fear of talking to an IRS person"

Like fear of a monster in your closet?

[mhcpa1964]

I've done this as third party and as POA. Either way is a bit difficult because the vetting questions are really personal. The questions asked are things like birth city and state, parents name, and other non-tax related questions. For the only 2 situations I've filled in for the client, I had this information in general because I also did the parents returns and knew where the taxpayers were originally from. In another instance, I got the client on another line and had a conference call. The tax practitioner line is much more accessible than the general phone.

[Uncle Sam]

Tax practitioner line? From reading the Letter 4883C one can only call the specific number shown on the letter.

[Uncle Sam]

Call was made this morning to the phone number listed on Letter 4883 C notice.
I made the phone call, spoke to IRS person, mentioned that I am 3rd party designee on the tax return and was permitted to call client for a 3-way phone call.
Before I called client I provided the IRS person the client's Social Security number so he could open up the file.

Then I called the client and made 3-way contact.

IRS person spoke directly to client to inform the purpose of the notice and what records to have available for response.

The question asked were:
Control number on IRS letter
Date of birth
Information from W-2 from prior year
Did client attend college in 2022 and name of college
Mother's maiden name
Father's name
City and State of birth

Then questions were more specific to 2022 tax return:
What is the address on the tax return
What is the refund amount shown on line 35a

Then we were put on hold for a few minutes for IRS person to check things out,
came back on the line and provided client with the IRS 1-800-829-1040 to call
if the refund doesn't come after 9 weeks. I asked if since I was listed as the
preparer and was authorized 3rd party designee I can call TPP I was told yes.

End of call.

[FEDUKE404]

Still scratching my head why the taxpayer could not have handled all of this on his own. . .
It was an IDENTITY question, not a tax preparation question. Not sure where the TPP would come in either.
Oh well. Whatever elevates your dinghy. . .

[Uncle Sam]

TPP would come in if the client didn't receive the refund within the 9 week time frame - it would be quicker to get IRS action if I interceded than if the client
were to call the general phone number.