Non-Verbal response to 5071C

[DENNYCARR]

State 2023 refund was issued - IRS sent 5071C - Return was MFJ with deceased taxpayer and widow is non-verbal in assisted living. There's a attorney-drafted POA from widow prior to disability and a 2848 from the POA to myself (which IRS accepted). How does this widow authenticate herself for the 5071C?

[BobKamman]

I have been lucky enough not to have to deal with one of these notices, but I found the IRS explanation of it online at https://www.irs.gov/individuals/understanding-your-5071c-notice .  What it seems to say is that you can create an account online (the 2848 should allow you to do this) and answer questions without calling.  Or, if you want to call, 

"Note: An authorized third party can represent you and call us on your behalf, but we must have a completed Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative PDF, on file for the representative. Otherwise, you and that person must call us together and you must participate on the call."

[Just-Lisa-Now-]

Ive got one of these too from 2022 

By the time the 5071 showed up the TP was deceased, surviving spouse in memory care facility and has no current identification to try and verify ID with.   

Daughter that helps take care of their tax filings doesnt want to futz around with it for the $106 refund in 2022, but now IRS is sending notices that 2022 hasnt been filed...it has, they just havent processed it.   

We responded with proof of filing and copy of return and explained the situation, maybe we'll get a response some day.

[BobKamman]

Taxpayer Advocate is fairly useless for real problems, but probably the kind of work they would like for justifying their existence.