ID numbers

[sea-tax]

For what is worth I have spoken to the IRS on two occasions and they said that on the 1040 page 2 third party you must right your real name. the word"preparer" is not going to fly.

I used to write simply preparer and then one time I had to actually call and speak to them when they looked at the return and it said preparer they said nope can't talk to you. They told me I have to specifically write my name and pin number on the 3rd party designee line as well as the paid preparer line.

[Bees Knees]

For what is worth I have spoken to the IRS on two occasions and they said that on the 1040 page 2 third party you must right your real name. the word"preparer" is not going to fly.

I used to write simply preparer and then one time I had to actually call and speak to them when they looked at the return and it said preparer they said nope can't talk to you. They told me I have to specifically write my name and pin number on the 3rd party designee line as well as the paid preparer line.

Next time tell them to read their own instructions. Form 1040 instructions, page 63, says the following:

“If you want to allow a friend, family member,
or any other person you choose to discuss
your 2006 tax return with the IRS,
check the “Yes” box in the “Third Party
Designee” area of your return. Also, enter
The designee’s name, phone number, and
Any five digits the designee chooses as his
or her personal identification number
(PIN). But if you want to allow the paid
preparer who signed your return to discuss
it with the IRS, just enter “Preparer” in the
space for the designee’s name. You do not
have to provide the other information requested.”

[BOB W]

I just had a situation with a 941. My copies had me, by name with pin, and the IRS claims they have no record of me as a third party and refused to discuss ANY issue. Must be an input issue for "mailed-in" 941s.

Just realized, I should of called back and get another person. This person seemed lazy in her efforts.

[Black Bart]

You're right, Bob.

Just realized, I should of called back and get another person.

That's the thing to do -- hang up and call right back (the phones rotate -- one call you get Memphis, next time maybe Atlanta, etc.).

The thing about these IRS agents is that quality is all over the board. They vary tremendously -- sometimes they're: knowledgeable, ignorant, unlearned, unschooled, well-versed, mediocre, very competent, lazy, helpful, experienced, complete novices, expert, etc., etc.

If you get someone that doesn't know/want to help, the smart thing is to simply hang up and call again. At one time I was afraid they'd know I had just called about it, but apparently they don't keep track of the incoming calls because I've never yet had one say to me "An agent just discussed that with you." You'll get a different agent and frequently -- not always -- receive a positive and helpful response.

I've talked to different agents about the same issue on many occasions and they may be as different as daylight and dark. Sometimes you'll get information which they don't even know they're not supposed to give you, and an uninformed or inexperienced agent may very well be more helpful that a competent agent. I've had some agents demand a 2848, while another is satisfied with an 8821, and some I simply told I was the accountant for the business and they asked for nothing at all (this is rare nowadays) before giving me the information. Some will say they can't tell you anything at all or "it's this way" and another will freely give you the full particulars or say it's "some other way," so if the first person is no help, just ring again and give it another shot -- the odds are very good you will prevail.

[JohnH]

If they ever noticed

I've called back many times when I was talking with someone who didn't know or didn't care. As you said, I've never had someone say "You just called in", but if they ever did I was just going to say "We got disconnected - I thought they hit a wrong button". I assumed that no matte rhow good their system might be, they would never be able to pair me back up with the person I had just been speaking with.

Although I've had a few bad experieinces, for the most part I've been impressed with the willingness to help which most of their people exhibit on the phone.

BTW, with respect to speaking with IRS about a tax matter, I frequently skip the POA route. I just find a time when the client is going to be available for an hour or so and tell them I'm going to call them back with the IRS on the line. I then call the IRS, put the line on speaker, and do something else while I'm waiting for someone to answer. When the IRS person gets on the line I ask if I can put them on hold while I contact the client, then call the client & conference them into the call. This is often an easy way to handle a matter. It also serves to show the client that the IRS isn't the ogre that many clients assume them to be. Obvously there are times when you would not want the client on the call, but there are many other situations in which this is the most efficient way to resolve a question.

[Black Bart]

I also frequently skip the POA

...with respect to speaking with IRS about a tax matter, I frequently skip the POA route. I just find a time when the client is going to be available for an hour or so...

This is often an easy way to handle a matter... It also serves to show the client that the IRS isn't the ogre...

route unless it's going to be one of those long, drawn-out affairs requiring letters back and forth.

I usually do as you do except that I have the client come to the office, listen in on an extension, and give their okay to the agent. As for the customer's perception of IRS, I'm more interested in showing them that these things take time (I have the client hang on until he/she gets tired of listening to Mozart), are sometimes complicated, and are worth pretty good money to handle.

[JohnH]

I see your point

Makes sense to let the client see what's taking place & what they're paying for, but I have to confess I do everything I can to keep my clients out of my office. I feel like I get more done that way.

[erchess]

Next time tell them to read their own instructions. Form 1040 instructions, page 63, says the following:

“If you want to allow a friend, family member,
or any other person you choose to discuss
your 2006 tax return with the IRS,
check the “Yes” box in the “Third Party
Designee” area of your return. Also, enter
The designee’s name, phone number, and
Any five digits the designee chooses as his
or her personal identification number
(PIN). But if you want to allow the paid
preparer who signed your return to discuss
it with the IRS, just enter “Preparer” in the
space for the designee’s name. You do not
have to provide the other information requested.”

I think that when you have to get the IRS to read its own documents to straighten out a problem, the professional and the client should each get a ten year exemption from all tax and said exemption should be willable and saleable. In other words the routine course of action would be to sell the exemption to a high dollar taxpayer such as a large Corporation. The result would be a simplified set of tax laws that people could actually keep up with mentally.

[Bees Knees]

Its also rather ridiculous, when you think about it, why they would insist on filling in the name of the preparer on the third party designee line when the same information is only 1.2 inches below under the Paid Prepare information line.

Maybe the guy needed glasses.

[Donanita]

Stolen EIN number

[QUOTE=Black Bart;44470]I got a PTIN after a crook swiped my SSN off his return (paid me with a hot check -- a nice touch), and opened two utility accounts for me on two out-of-town houses. They ran for several months until the electric company called demanding "payment of your seriously delinquent account." After that I didn't need any persuasion to get a PTIN.



I had an accounting client that used my EIN number they got from a 941 I filed and bought a new auto under their company name but used my EIN number.Seems they had back taxes and didn't want to use theirs. Received a call one day from a loan collection agency wanting the auto or money. Had let this client go about 3 yrs before. Liked to never convince the loan agency that was another company using my EIN.