Erroneous Refund?

Mistakes happen. What if you receive a refund from the IRS that you’re not entitled to? Or what if you receive one that’s more than you’re entitled to? How you must handle it depends on the details. A paper check refund should be voided and returned within 21 days of receipt to the address in the link below. But suppose you cashed the check. In that case, submit a personal check within 21 days to that address.

If the refund was by direct deposit, contact your bank to have them return the deposit. Also contact the IRS at the phone number in the link. Be aware that if the IRS intentionally changed your refund amount from what was on the return you filed, it will mail you a notice of explanation.

You can find more information here: https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc161

Photo by Matt Moloney from Freerange Stock.

ERC Voluntary Disclosure Program Available for a Limited Time

As part of an ongoing initiative to combat questionable Employee Retention Credit (ERC) claims, the IRS has launched a voluntary disclosure program. It allows eligible businesses to pay back money they received after filing ERC claims in error.

The disclosure program runs through March 22, 2024, and requires only 80% of the claim received to be repaid. It’s part of a larger IRS effort to stop aggressive marketing around the ERC that misled some employers into filing claims they were ineligible for.

The IRS has another program that allows employers to withdraw pending ERC claims with no interest or penalty. More than $100 million in withdrawals has already been received.

Withdrawing ERC Claims

Recently, the IRS halted processing of claims for the Employee Retention Credit (ERC), due to a high volume of fraudulent claims. The moratorium is through at least the end of 2023. ERC claims that were already filed are now subject to longer processing, including heightened scrutiny to weed out fraud.

Now the IRS is creating a path for businesses that are concerned they may be victims of aggressive ERC marketing schemes. Eligible businesses can opt to withdraw unprocessed claims that they now believe may be invalid. Among other things, to be eligible, the business must have made the claim on an adjusted employment return that included no other adjustments and must want to withdraw the entire amount of the ERC claim.

Withdrawing a claim can allow the business to avoid receiving a refund for which it’s ineligible (and that would have to be repaid) as well as interest and penalties. Businesses that aren’t eligible to use the withdrawal process may be able to reduce or eliminate their ERC claim by filing an amended return.

IRS Suspends Processing of New ERC Claims

The IRS is continuing to warn businesses about aggressive marketing by nefarious actors involving the Employee Retention Credit (ERC). It has suspended the processing of ERC claims until at least year end because of a spike in the number of fraudulent claims.

The IRS has now issued a series of red flags businesses should bear in mind. Warning signs include:

  • Unsolicited calls mentioning an “easy application process,”
  • Claims that a business qualifies for the ERC even before any discussion of the business’s tax situation, and
  • Large upfront fees and additional fees based on a percentage of the refund claim.

Eligible employers can claim the ERC on an original or amended employment tax return for qualified wages paid between March 13, 2020, and Dec. 31, 2021. But there are very specific eligibility requirements; careful review is required to determine eligibility. The IRS recommends businesses work with a trusted tax professional.

Please contact us if you have any questions:

San Jose: (408) 252-1800
Watsonville: (831) 726-8500

Tax Season Is Ending, but Tax Scams Are Thriving

The IRS is warning taxpayers about emails and text messages that promise refunds and credits, but that actually result in identity theft. Many current schemes involve the third Economic Impact Payment (originally made in 2021). Messages may also reference the Employee Retention Credit, assert that the taxpayer is owed a refund or say there’s problem with a return that must be fixed. They encourage recipients to click links that download malware.

The fake messages usually contain misspellings and typos and come from a suspicious-looking email address. If you receive one like this, don’t click on anything! Report it to phishing@irs.gov.

What Certain IRS Notices Mean

What does it mean if a business receives a Notice CP2100 or CP2100A from the IRS? These notices tell recipients that the Form 1099 information returns they’ve submitted contain missing or incorrect Taxpayer Identification Numbers, names or both.

To respond, payers need to compare accounts listed on the notice with their own records and make corrections, if necessary. They may also need to amend backup withholding for payments made to payees. Typically, the IRS sends these notices twice a year, in April and in either September or October. As always, you should promptly respond to any IRS communication. Contact the office with questions.

San Jose: (408) 252-1800
Watsonville: (831) 726-8500

Verifying Your Identity When Calling the IRS

Sometimes, taxpayers must call the IRS about a tax matter. As part of the IRS’s ongoing efforts to keep taxpayer data secure from identity thieves, IRS phone assistors take great care to discuss personal information with the taxpayer or someone the taxpayer has authorized to speak on their behalf. Therefore, the IRS will ask taxpayers and their representatives to verify their identity when they call.

Calling the IRS About Your Own Tax Matter

You should have the following information ready before calling the IRS:

  • Social Security numbers (SSNs) and birth dates for those who were named on the tax return
  • An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) letter if you have one instead of an SSN
  • Your filing status: single, head of household, married filing jointly, or married filing separately
  • Your prior-year tax return, because phone assistors may need it to verify taxpayer identity with information from the return before answering certain questions
  • A copy of the tax return in question
  • Any IRS letters or notices you have received

Legally Designated Representatives

By law, IRS telephone assistors will speak only with the taxpayer or to the taxpayer’s legally designated representative. In other words, a taxpayer can grant authorization to a third party to help with federal tax matters. Depending on the authorization, the third party can be a family member, friend, tax professional, attorney, or business. The different types of third-party authorizations include:

  • Power of Attorney – Allow someone to represent you in tax matters before the IRS. This is different from a power of attorney for property who you authorize to manage your financial affairs. It must be an individual authorized to practice before the IRS.
  • Tax Information Authorization – Appoint anyone to review and receive your confidential tax information for the type of tax and years/periods you determine.
  • Third Party Designee – Designate a person on your tax form to discuss that specific tax return and year with the IRS.
  • Oral Disclosure – Authorize the IRS to disclose your tax information to a person you bring into a phone conversation or meeting with the IRS about a specific tax issue.

Note: Taxpayers must meet all of their tax obligations even when authorizing someone to represent them.

Calling on Behalf of Someone Else

If you are calling the IRS about someone else’s account, you should be prepared to verify your identity and provide information about the person you represent. Before calling about a third party, you should have the following information available:

  • Verbal or written authorization from the taxpayer to discuss the account
  • The ability to verify the taxpayer’s name, SSN or ITIN, tax period, and tax forms filed
  • Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN)
  • One of these forms, which is current, completed, and signed: Form 8821, Tax Information Authorization or Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative

Keep in mind that if your tax professional is calling the IRS on your behalf, your tax pro will need to have this information about you, except generally a Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN) instead of an IP PIN.

Questions or Concerns?

If you have any questions or concerns about verifying your identity before calling the IRS, do not hesitate to contact the office for assistance.

San Jose: (408) 252-1800
Watsonville: (831) 726-8500

What To Do if You Receive an IRS CP2000 Notice

An IRS CP2000 notice is mailed to a taxpayer when income reported from third-party sources such as an employer, bank, or mortgage company does not match the income reported on the tax return.

It is not a tax bill or a formal audit notification; it merely informs you about the information the IRS has received and how it affects your tax. It is, however, important to pay attention to what your CP2000 notice states because interest accrues on your unpaid balance until you pay it in full.

What to Do

If you receive a CP2000 notice in the mail, complete the response form. If your notice doesn’t have a response form, then follow the notice instructions. Generally, you must respond within 30 days of the date printed on the notice. However, you may request additional time to respond, and if you cannot pay the full amount that you owe, you can set up a payment plan with the IRS.

If the information on the CP2000 notice is not correct, then check the notice response form for instructions on what to do next. You also may want to contact whoever reported the information and ask them to correct it.

If the information is wrong because someone else is using your name and social security number, please contact the IRS and let them know. You can also use the link on the IRS Identity theft information web page to learn more about what you can do.

If you do not respond, the IRS will send another notice. If the IRS does not accept the information provided, it will send IRS Notice CP3219A, Statutory Notice of Deficiency, which includes information about how to challenge the decision in Tax Court.

Do I Need To Amend My Return?

If the information displayed in the CP2000 notice is correct, you don’t need to amend your return unless you have additional income, credits, or expenses to report. If you agree with the IRS notice, follow the instructions to sign the response page and return it to the IRS in the envelope provided.

If you have additional income, credits, or expenses to report, complete and submit a Form 1040-X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. If you need assistance with this, please call the office.

How To Avoid Receiving an IRS CP2000 Notice:

  • Keep accurate and detailed records.
  • Wait until you receive your income statements before filing your tax return.
  • Check the records you receive from your employer, mortgage company, bank, or other sources of income (W-2s, 1098s, 1099s, etc.) to ensure they are correct.
  • Include all your income on your tax return, including that from a second job or fees derived from the sharing economy (e.g., renting a spare room out on Airbnb).
  • Follow the instructions for reporting income, expenses, and deductions.
  • File an amended tax return for any information you receive after you’ve filed your return.
  • Use a professional tax preparer who will help you avoid mistakes and find credits and deductions you may qualify for.

If you have questions about IRS notices, help is just a phone call away.

San Jose: (408) 252-1800

Watsonville: (831) 726-8500

New Online Option for Certain IRS Notices

Taxpayers who receive certain notices requiring them to send information to the IRS can now submit their documentation online through IRS.gov. This new secure step will allow taxpayers or their tax professionals to upload documents electronically rather than mailing them in, helping reduce time and effort in resolving tax issues.

Initially, the online correspondence feature will be available to the more than 500,000 taxpayers each year who receive one of nine IRS notices. These notices are primarily sent to individual tax filers claiming various tax benefits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit for low- and moderate-income workers, the Child Tax Credit for families with dependents, the Premium Tax Credit for those who obtain health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace and members of the military claiming combat zone tax benefits. Of note, taxpayers receiving these notices can respond securely to IRS online, regardless of whether they have an IRS Online Account.

How the Document Upload Tool works

The prototype for the Document Upload Tool was developed by IRS information technology specialists in 2021. Since then, the IRS has been testing this feature on a limited number of exam-related notices, and 38% of the responses to these notices have used the agency’s secure electronic communications rather than traditional mail.

Language on the notice informs the taxpayer to “Send us your documents using the Documentation Upload Tool within 30 days from the date of this notice.” It includes the link and a unique access code.

  • The taxpayer can open the link in any browser and then input their unique code, first and last name, and Social Security, Individual Taxpayer Identification, or Employee Identification number.
  • The taxpayer can then securely upload scans, photos, or digital copies of documents (maximum of 15 MB per file, up to 40 files).
  • The taxpayer receives a confirmation that the IRS received their documents, and the IRS employee assigned to the case can manage the transmitted documents.

What Notices Qualify?

Taxpayers who receive one of the following notices with the link and access code can choose to upload their documents:

  • CP04, relating to combat zone status.
  • CP05A, information request related to a refund.
  • CP06 and CP06A, relating to the Premium Tax Credit.
  • CP08, relating to the Child Tax Credit.
  • CP09, relating to claiming the Earned Income Tax Credit.
  • CP75, relating to the EITC.
  • CP75a, relating to the EITC.
  • CP75d, relating to the EITC and other credits.

Future Expansion Planned

This capability is expected to expand to dozens of other notices in the coming months and years. In addition, the IRS will offer digital correspondence on various other taxpayer interactions. During live phone calls with taxpayers, IRS employees can grant upload access by providing the link and unique access code.

Secure Digital Correspondence Offers a Better Solution

For taxpayers and tax professionals working with the IRS, this new capability reduces the correspondence burden, ensures tax compliance, and improves the customer experience. For IRS employees, this reduces paper correspondence, decreases processing time, and speeds case resolution.

Questions? Please, don’t hesitate to contact the office.

San Jose: (408) 252-1800

Watsonville: (831) 726-8500

IRS offers relief to California storm victims

Edit: On Friday, February 24, the IRS further extended the deadline for affected counties to 10/16. Read additional details in our latest post. As of this edit, the CA FTB has not yet announced conformity to the new October deadline. We will continue to update our blog with details as they become available.

The IRS announced on January 10th that California storm victims now have until May 15, 2023 to file various federal individual and business tax returns and make tax payments. Relief is automatically offered to individuals and households that reside or have a business in the following counties of California:

  • Alameda
  • Butte
  • Calaveras
  • Colusa
  • Contra Costa
  • El Dorado
  • Fresno
  • Glenn
  • Humboldt
  • Kings
  • Lake
  • Los Angeles
  • Madera
  • Marin
  • Mariposa
  • Mendocino
  • Merced
  • Mono
  • Monterey
  • Napa
  • Orange
  • Placer
  • Riverside
  • Sacramento
  • San Benito
  • San Bernardino
  • San Diego
  • San Francisco
  • San Joaquin
  • San Luis Obispo
  • San Mateo
  • Santa Barbara
  • Santa Clara
  • Santa Cruz
  • Siskiyou
  • Solano
  • Sonoma
  • Stanislaus
  • Sutter
  • Tehama
  • Trinity
  • Tulare
  • Ventura
  • Yolo
  • Yuba

Relief includes more time to file individual and business tax returns due on the March 15th or April 15th deadlines, Payroll tax returns due on the January 31st and April 30th deadlines, 4th quarter estimated tax payments due on January 17th and 1st quarter estimated tax payments due on April 15th. While the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) has not yet announced any relief, historically they have matched the federal extensions in disaster declaration situations. As we await confirmation from the FTB as to whether California will conform to these extensions, right now the California 4th quarter estimated taxes are still due January 17th.

If you or your business reside in one of the impacted counties:
No action is required by you. Penalty relief for late filing is automatic and is based on the address you have used to file your tax returns in the past.

If you are outside the currently impacted counties:
You may be eligible for relief but it is not automatic. You can continue to watch this page (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/tax-relief-in-disaster-situations) for more updates as new counties are added. We will also send updates as we learn of any changes to the impacted disaster declaration zone.

Both Wheeler Accountants offices are located in impacted counties (Santa Clara and Santa Cruz) and we have been experiencing flooding and power outages this week along with many other Californians. The IRS permits taxpayers who live or reside outside the disaster declaration area, but whose records necessary to meet a deadline occurring during the postponement period are located in the affected area to be eligible for relief, but it is not automatic. Thus as a client of our firm you are eligible for relief by contacting the IRS at 866-562-5227. We will not automatically call the IRS on your behalf and we will proceed to complete your work in accordance with the traditional deadlines unless we hear from you that you would like to be eligible for the postponement.

Other state income tax returns for California residents in a federally declared disaster county may not be granted an extension. For multi-state returns, federal conformity to federally declared disaster extensions will need to be examined on a case by case basis.

We strongly encourage all clients to continue to submit tax documentation to our office as you normally would to ensure a smooth filing season and to allow us to provide the best possible service to you. The start of tax filing season including filing to obtain refunds due is not delayed by the disaster declaration.

If you have suffered economic loss as a result of the California storms please consult your tax team here at Wheeler as you may be eligible to deduct any losses on either your 2023 or 2022 tax returns, even if the loss occurred in 2023.