When taxpayers have a question, they should first try going to IRS.gov. The Let Us Help You page is a great way to quickly answer tax questions. If you call the IRS for additional help, you will need to have information available to verify your identity. This is part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to secure taxpayer data from identity thieves.
IRS representatives only discuss personal information with the taxpayer or someone the taxpayer authorizes to speak on their behalf. To ensure you don’t have to call back, have the following information ready:
- Social Security numbers and birth dates for those who were included on the tax return
- An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number letter if you have an ITIN instead of an SSN
- Filing status: single, head of household, married filing jointly, married filing separate, or qualifying widow or widower with a dependent child
- The prior-year tax return. Phone representatives may need to verify taxpayer identity with information from the return before answering certain questions
- A copy of the tax return in question
- IRS letters or notices you may have received
By law, IRS representatives will only speak with the taxpayer or to the taxpayer’s legally designated representative.
Anyone calling about someone else’s account should be prepared to verify their identity and provide information about the person they are representing including:
- Verbal or written authorization from the taxpayer to discuss their account
- The ability to verify the taxpayer’s name, SSN or ITIN, tax period, and tax forms filed
- Preparer Tax Identification Number or PIN if a third-party designee
- One of these forms, which is current, completed and signed:
Of course, you may always reach out to your HW&Co. tax advisor with any additional questions you may have.
