The Word Referral> IRS

[BOB W]

A client just called saying that she got a letter from IRS for a business that owes a little over $1,000 and they want her to pay it. My client does not even know anything about the business and has never been part of it.

She said that she called the IRS (number on the notice) and they said that she was the "Referal" and was responsible for the debt....????

What is a "Referral"? Never heard of this before.

[sea-tax]

A client just called saying that she got a letter from IRS for a business that owes a little over $1,000 and they want her to pay it. My client does not even know anything about the business and has never been part of it.

She said that she called the IRS (number on the notice) and they said that she was the "Referal" and was responsible for the debt....????

What is a "Referral"? Never heard of this before.

Your guess is as good as mine, If it were me I would instruct the client to provide me a copy of the letter and a signed POA before they did anything and then I would contact the IRS if it is infact the IRS and get to the bottom of the problem. Something smells bad and it is not the mexican food in the fridge from a couple days ago.

[solomon]

Is there a notice number on it?

[BOB W]

Is there a notice number on it?

The client tells me yes. She is going to fax it to me tomorrow morning so I can see. She said that the envelope it can in looked like a standard IRS envelope with all the usual Offical Use only jargon and IRS postage permit # info...???

I have never heard of someone being on file as a "Referal"...............Third party, yes..............

[solomon]

Once you get it, here is a link for individual filer notices.

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=125104,00.html

This one is for business.

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=125130,00.html

[BOB W]

Once you get it, here is a link for individual filer notices.

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=125104,00.html

This one is for business.

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/artic...125130,00.html

Thanks, I'll use it tomorrow

[erchess]

I am almost certain that either

she is being scammed or has somehow failed to communicate to you or you to us what was in the notice and/or what happened when she called the IRS. I look forward to hearing how things turn out.

[JohnH]

Funny sometimes

It's funny at times how people's ability to read & remember gets really bad when they receive a tax notice. How many times do clients call in a tizzy over an IRS notice, then when you get them to actually look at it or send you a copy, it turns out to be something from the state. Or when an assessment comes out for some additional income, they can't recall ever having received the money.

[BOB W]

Well I got the fax. It is a letter 2050. I did a google search and it appears that 2050 is going around as people are asking questions on the web. No one has heard of such "Letter 2050". Looks like it could be a scam.

The letter is identical to an IRS letter.

I just called the 1-800 number on the letter and the answering machine voice is identical to the IRS's. If this is a scam it must be coming from inside the IRS.

[dsi]

Any details on the letter? Like how did they calculate the $1000 additional tax? p&I? An IRS address where they are supposed to send the $$$?

[BOB W]

Any details on the letter? Like how did they calculate the $1000 additional tax? p&I? An IRS address where they are supposed to send the $$$?

No details or $$ amounts on letter. Just to call.

ACS SUPPORT> PO BOX 57> BENSALEM, PA

ADDED LATER: I just got off the phone with the client, she forgot to tell me that all she had to do is write a letter to ACS stating that she has no affiliation with A & J Auto Glass and the matter would be resolved.

Why would she get me involved if it was already resolved???? I should bill her, but I won't. I'm that softee that doesn't do what I preach.

Don't you love it clients waste your time????????????

[ChEAr$]

depends of course, but

No details or $$ amounts on letter. Just to call.

(snipped....)(

Don't you love it clients waste your time????????????

for long standing clients (three years or more) I don't mind, because each client
represents an annuity to me.

[ED SMITH]

I just called the 1-800 number on the letter and the answering machine voice is identical to the IRS's. If this is a scam it must be coming from inside the IRS.

Call 1-866-860-4259, the Practitioner Priority Line. Of course you will need a POA.
If anythingwas sent out under her SSN it should show up in the IRS computer. You might want to have them a fax you the account transcript for the year in question.

[Donald Rihn, EA]

Billing P*I*T*A clients???

Why would she get me involved if it was already resolved???? I should bill her, but I won't. I'm that softee that doesn't do what I preach.

Don't you love it clients waste your time????????????

Depends, if it is really a detailed response that takes some time and research, and for something the client did or didn't do, or the IRS assumed incorrectly, I may bill.

But, as I said it depends. I keep track of time spent for each activity for a client. That gets reviewed when I bill monthly (for monthly clients) for with the tax return for once-a-year clients. Same applies for these year-end reviews and ES reviews during the year.

[BOB W]

[QUOTE=BOB W;46835]No details or $$ amounts on letter. Just to call.

ACS SUPPORT> PO BOX 57> BENSALEM, PA

ADDED LATER: I just got off the phone with the client, she forgot to tell me that all she had to do is write a letter to ACS stating that she has no affiliation with A & J Auto Glass and the matter would be resolved.

Why would she get me involved if it was already resolved???? I should bill her, but I won't. I'm that softee that doesn't do what I preach.

Don't you love it when clients waste your time????????????