Level 15

Question

Identity Verification for a Decedent

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
August 26, 2021
4 replies
29 views

Taxpayer died in November 2020.

Final 1040 was filed by estate PR in April.

Letter this week from Austin SC asks decedent to go to IRS website and have the letter and copy of return handy.

Refund of $1,700 is being held until she complies.

Has anyone else had to verify a decedent’s identity? How did it go?

Sleep well tonight, America – IRS is protecting you from the dead.

ProSeries Professional

This topic has been closed for replies.

PATAX

Level 12

I have a client that had power of attorney for his elderly mother.... He had to do that and it went okay... If my memory serves me right they asked him about the figures on the prior-year tax return to verify identity...

sjrcpa

Level 15

Was she still alive?

The more I know the more I don’t know.

PATAX

Level 12

Yes she was still alive at that time, ....Also the IRS office that took care of that was out of Austin Texas...

TAXOH

Level 10

I had one once but it was from the state of Ohio, not the IRS. I called them and they had me fax a copy of the death certificate and then they released the refund.

IRonMaN

Level 15

Or you could just invest in a Ouija Board.

Slava Ukraini!

Taxes-by-Rocky

Level 7

Identity application might not be able to distinguish status of taxpayer. On the other hand, was a Form 1310 attached to the filing?

BobKammanAuthor

Level 15

No 1310 attached, but a copy of the Letters of PR and the death certificate.

Went to the IRS website for this. They require a credit card and phone number for the decedent. I think I have read somewhere that if you try that and it fails, you are locked out forever. So this morning I tried calling the IRS number on the notice. After listening to the recorded spiel about using the website, the message says that they are too busy right now so call back later, or another day.

My clients aren't in urgent need of the $1,700 refund and I have told them the best way to get IRS attention is with a Congressional. Might try a Form 911 first, to see if Taxpayer Advocate ignores it like the last one I filed. (IRS ignored Tax Court judgment and assessed a higher amount of tax.)

Taxes-by-Rocky

Level 7

They definitely need to do something. Either simplify the tax code or add lots more bodies to handle the complexity.

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