IRS envelopes

Many months ago I posted a question about the IRS thinking I represented a taxpayer I do not know. [I am an ordinary taxpayer, not in the tax consulting or advising business by any stretch of the imagination.] They are addressed as Taxpayer c/o Me. The first time I opened the envelope without looking closely, it had my name and address on it. When I realized it did not concern me I called the IRS, another envelope arrived so I wrote them. They sent a form where I was required to state that I am no longer this person's representative. I didn't fill it out because it was a revocation of representation. I was never this person's representative. The envelopes keep coming, I am writing "Return to Sender, Taxpayer unknown by anyone at this address" on the outside. Sometimes adding a statement to the effect that there is no representation relationship and please check your original records. Still the envelopes keep coming. Should I do anything else?

Who's your local paper's reporter? Better yet, national news?

"Perplexed" wrote.....

Send a copy of your letter and these letters DIRECTLY to the Commissioner. Someone UP top needs to straighten out this stupidity!

Contact the Taxpayer Advocate in your area (see

0972,00.html).Send them a brief letter describing the circumstances andyour attempts to resolve the issue. They're very good athandling a variety of matters that get caught up in thebureaucracy.

Thanks San Diego, I contacted the Taxpayer Advocate. He asked that I stop by the Taxpayer Assistance Center. They were stunned, called the Representation Records Center staffl. That gal told me she would pull the records. She did and called me today. The problem is fixed!

But what *was* it? What could possibly have caused those letters to be sent to you? And why didn't they get the point when you repeatedly told them that they were writing to the wrong address? Did you get any answers to these questions? Your public is dying to know! :-)

Fumble fingered key entry errors when the 2848 was processed.

They could not disclose those details to a third party :-} but I would guess the OP's reaction letter is sitting in a pile of work to be screened at a Service Center or Area office. This situation is a reminder to all Tax rep's, when the service is still contacting your client w/o sending you CC's of the letters, something is wrong! Especially if more than

60 days have passed since you have submitted a correctly prepared 2848. I stress, make sure your CAF number is on the form if you have been assigned one, that your address & phone numbers are accurate, and that all content is legible, poor grade prints/copies faxed in the Memphis or Ogden are hard to process. I have seen a case where the CAF number was one digit off due to legibility issues, subsequent letters generated went to an attorney who had no concern in the case. when it should have been going to another.

(snipped...)

What we've learned here in this thread is yet one more good reason to sign up for and use eServices. I can sit down at my computer and input a form 2848 in less than 7 minutes, then wait maybe another 2 minutes for it to register with CAF in Memphis. Best thing since canned dog food! ChEAr$, Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

CAF numbers don't have check digits?

There really is no excuse for not having a check digit to at least detect single digit transcription errors in those numbers.

You nailed it Taxmanhog. I learned that my CAS number was one digit off of the Taxpayer's correct Representative's CAS number - it was a keying error. Two Representative notices were sent, one to me and one to the correct Rep. I have no clue as to what a CAS number is, but I may have received one when I file on behalf of my Mom who is in a nursing home and not able to manage her financial affairs. The IRS, and the Taxpayer, should count their blessings that I am an honest person who understands that mistakes happen [retired USDOL Compliance Officer]. Too bad that they aren't staffed sufficiently to catch the error even when a member of the public is trying to get their attention. The "Other Issues" IRS person in the Seattle taxpayer service center was excellent. 'Tho probably at the low end of the professional totem pole he handled this problem with wisdom and professionalism of a savvy attorney. Kudos to a public servant in an agency that is not known for treating either their staff or their 'customers' kindly.

I remember when CAF numbers made their debut. Mine came with numbers AND an "R" on the end of it. Maybe the R was a check character. Probably not. But never could find out what the R stood for. Probably "REAL nice fellow." "R"edneck? Nahhh! ChEAr$, Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

Moderator: The Noo Yawk Times has a Q&A section. If you submit the question to them, they will probably research it for you.

I expected you to plug the program in this thread! I agree, more of you folks need to sign up for it!!!!

I'm not a 100% sure about the 2848, it seems feasible that the SURNAME of the REP could be KEYED to his CAF number for subsequent input validations. The processing of the tax returns require one of the following to validate the SSN: A two letter check digit found on the pre-printer stick on label that comes with the instruction/forms package. or A four letter "NAME CONTROL" which is composed of the first four letters of the first taxpayer surname matched to the first taxpayer SSN.

And since I was one of about 15 or so people in on the ground floor testing the system maybe 5 or 6 years ago, I do qualify. Remember PMS? No wait, it was PSMS I think.

ChEAr$, Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

While I wasn't exactly rolling on the floor, my wife did come in to see if I were okay. Thanks Dick, I needed that after a rather long and "taxing" day. ChEAr$, Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

Now I dare you to tell me for sure what my "R" after the numbers stand for. ChEAr$, Harlan Lunsford, EA n LA

"Perplexed" wrote

On behalf the Seattle TAC rep, myself and many other dedicated employees, THANK YOU, for understanding!

Ah! Come on, Harlan, It stands for "R"oyal southern Gentleman or Lady. Mine has an R on the end, as well. And I consider me a Royal Southern Lady. Missy Doyle

Hey, my CAF number also ends in an R.

And here I thought it had something to do with either my first or last name. I never thought it was because I was born and spent my first three years south of the Mason-Dixon line (Virginia)! Ron Rosenfeld

--ron