Anybody Else Having Trouble Faxing POA Form to Ogden, UT Service Center Today?

[TheTaxMan]

For some reason their fax server is not picking up in Ogden.

I am trying to see if their practitioner services group has any 411 on this matter.

[TheTaxMan]

RE: Ogden, UT POA Fax Problem

I just called Ogden's POA help phone number (801-620-4254), but I could not get anybody on the phone - it went directly to a bulk voicemail menu.

Perhaps they are experiencing a phone system problem in Ogden.

[DTS]

Poa

I stopped trying to fax any POA to the CAF unit some years ago. It was my experience that it never was received, even after confirming the number several times. I think that number is on permanent "sleep mode".

Try contacting the practitioner's hotline, tell them you have a signed POA you will fax to them. After your conversation with the person regarding your client, ask them to now make sure they will forward the POA onto the CAF unit to make sure it will be on file in the future. I've always had success doing it this way.

Give this a try.

Dennis

[thomtax]

Caveat

If you call the practitioners line, and want to fax the POA, you must be on a different line from what your fax machine is on. They want you to stay on the line while your fax it.

LT

[DTS]

Poa

I do have a dedicated faxline, so I was not thinking along those lines when I gave the advice.

Dennis

[joanmcq]

I fax stuff to Ogden CAF all the time. Many, many times per week. Maybe the lines are busy today. Try again. I haven't tried today, so they might be backed up. Worked on Friday just fine.

[DTS]

Ogden

I guess my point here is that I have faxed approx. 5-6 POAs to them in the past and then I'll call 2-3 weeks later to access the client's info and I'm told there is no POA on file. So much for that!

In my case, this is just a humongous waste of precious time to me.

Dennis

[S T]

Caf

I have the Ogden Ut - POA /CAF # as 801-620-4249

Practitioner Priority Service as 1-866-860-4259

Sandy

[thomtax]

I do have a dedicated faxline, so I was not thinking along those lines when I gave the advice.

Dennis

Dennis,

In no way was I taking a shot at you with my reply. I discovered it the hard way one day when I was on the fax line.

LT

[DTS]

thomtax...

honestly, I did not think you were taking a shot at me, whatsoever! You made a very good point for having to fax to the CAF unit that I had not thought of.

I have a good friend and client that I'm always teasing to get a second line for her fax machine, as it's touch and go trying to get something into her business unless I tell her "I'm pushing the send button right now".

You and I are fine!

Dennis

[joanmcq]

I guess my point here is that I have faxed approx. 5-6 POAs to them in the past and then I'll call 2-3 weeks later to access the client's info and I'm told there is no POA on file. So much for that!

In my case, this is just a humongous waste of precious time to me.

Dennis

I fax them and usually within 2 days I can access eservices or call underreporters for info. Is it Practitioners priority that doesn't get it? I have literally faxed in hundreds over the last few years and have rarely had a problem with either eservices or the underreporters unit. Sometimes they have to look at a different screen, but its there.

[Black Bart]

It isn't just Ogden.

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).

I just did that 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, he said 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).

[DTS]

"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).

Bart,

Of all the times I've called the IRS, I couldn't have asked for nicer people to deal with, except one time. It would have taken extreme measures to put this guy in a decent mood. Having said that, he wasn't as bad as the clown you dealt with today!

Dennis

[Black Bart]

Found out something I didn't know anyway, though.

Although he informed me that "you aren't listening to me" (can't figure that one out 'cause he talked non-stop; I couldn't get a word in edgewise), he did say that while IRS will talk to us without a POA if we have checked the 1040's third-party designee box, that authority expires exactly one year after the due date of the return. He talked to me an about '07 issue, but wouldn't discuss '06 because that election died April 15, 2008.

So anyway, I usually learn something new & useful every time I deal with them. And too, Dennis, you're right that many IRS agents are courteous and competent; I spoke with one in Texas recently and couldn't have asked for a more helpful/polite representative. So, not to say they're all bad; it's just the luck of my draw hasn't been that outstanding (runs about 50-50).

[taxea]

Trouble Faxing POA

Do you have all three numbers? 801-620-4249/50/51

I too fax all the time and they only ask for 72hours to get it into the system. What is time consuming is having to input all the data into e-services after having sent the poa by fax. I have never had a problem with the POA getting into the system.

I too have nothing but good things to say about dealings with the IRS practitioner hotline personnel, as well as other divisions...with the exception of one employee. If I call and get her I hang up and call again. I think she is with automated collections. taxea