Missing SS Statement

[JohnH]

I occasionally use the "it hasn't been a problem yet" approach when my experience & judgement tell me the differences aren't significant. I'll probably keep doing things that way, because it hasn't been a problem yet...

[Black Bart]

Ha-ha.

I occasionally use the "it hasn't been a problem yet" approach...I'll probably keep doing things that way, because it hasn't been a problem yet...

You rock, John!

[OtisMozzetti]

Call IRS with client sitting there

It has been asserted that the IRS has the Soc. Security received information "if you have P of A", but it has been noted that there are runarounds in getting the Power of Attorney established. So why not sit there with the client, call the IRS Practitioner Priority Line, have the client identify himself and have the IRS furnish the information either to the client (or often they will put you on after the client identifies himself and authorizes you to handle the call).

[Black Bart]

I did just that

It has been asserted that the IRS has the Soc. Security received information "if you have P of A", but it has been noted that there are runarounds in getting the Power of Attorney established. So why not sit there with the client, call the IRS Practitioner Priority Line, have the client identify himself and have the IRS furnish the information either to the client (or often they will put you on after the client identifies himself and authorizes you to handle the call).

about an hour ago with a 1040X client across the desk from me. Problem is, while clients ordinarily "don't see what the problem is" with this stuff, ask them to sit there and pat a foot for 15-30 minutes and they start chomping at the bit -- they want out of there (it's just a little bit too inconvenient). Nevertheless, I do prefer to handle it that way since it's a royal pain to haggle with IRS agents over POAs (you'd think you were dealing with national treasures instead of piddlin' SSA statements).

I called PPL earlier today on another case -- got Philadelphia (consistently rude, surly reps) and the guy proceeds to tell me that the Philadelphia agent I talked to about POAs last week was full of baloney ("I don't care what she told you!") and that there are three CAF centers (add Ogden/Philadelphia) rather than just one in Memphis (as the other agent said). Further, after you send a POA to one (to be posted in 48 hours), it "becomes a clerical matter" and while "the clerks are supposed to make it available to the other two centers," that "does not mean that it will get done" (very reassuring) and furthermore, "Are we going to have to go over this six times?" at which point I replied "So much for that kinder and gentler IRS...tell you what, let's just forget the whole **** thing" and...hung up (think I'll just write them about it).