Urgently Need Fax Number for W&I IRS division

[sports222]

A tax lien for grossly incorrect amount of $ was filed against me from the IRS.  I never received a letter about this but I read that I need to appeal this.  I can't get ahold of the IRS to talk about it via phone because of the government shutdown.  I am looking for the official fax number for Wage and Investment division so I can fax an appeal in ASAP.  Does anybody know what info I need to include in the appeal? Is there an official appeal form on the IRS website? I didn't receive an appeal form from the IRS but found out about the lien from looking at my county's registry of deeds.  Any help greatly appreciated!  I'm freaking out.

[Deleted]

Found the following numbers here:

www.irs.gov/uac/Wage-&-Investment-Division-At-a-Glance

Key Contacts and Taxpayer Assistance

Taxpayers may order current and prior year forms, instructions and publications by calling 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676).

Taxpayers may ask tax questions by calling the toll-free customer service line at 1-800-829-1040. TTY/TDD users may call 1-800-829-4059 to ask tax questions or to order forms and publications.

IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers are a source for personal face-to-face tax help and solutions to tax problems, every business day.

Peggy Bogadi W&I Commissioner
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

There's additional names and contact information at the link

[sports222]

Thanks for the reply .  I am trying to decide which fax # to use from that page....I guess the one for the director of customer account services?  The lien was filed based upon a substitute return the IRS did; that's why the lien amount is so high and so erroneous.  So I want to give them my return instead.  Is there a deadline to submit the real return which will replace the substitute return? Thanks for any help.

[mwcpa]

"Is there a deadline to submit the real return which will replace the substitute return?"

Yes, ASAP...what year is the year in issue?  if it is from "before" 2009 if you would have been due a refund you will forfeit it.. if it was for 2009 and you filed a proper extension you have until Tuesday.

your best bet is to have the missing year(s) prepared and filed asap.... there is a good chance the IRS will not release the lien until you actually file... they need to protect their interest and this is how they do it....

[sports222]

Thanks for the reply MWCPA.   One reason I'm freaking out is the IRS probably sent the letters regarding this lien to an outdated address, so they must have been returned to sender.  I never received any of the letters so I'm worried about whether there are any deadlines for appealing the lien that I missed(and I can't call to ask because of the gov. shutdown).  If I did miss the 30 day deadline or whatever amount it is deadline to appeal the lien, would I still be able to file the correct return to replace the substitute return(and thus have the amount on the lien adjusted)?  And after they accept the real return, I'm hoping to get the lien withdrawn (as opposed to released).  The numbers generated by the substitute return are way off base so the lien is hugely inflated and incorrect.

[TheOtherMe]

Most of the IRS employees are not working so it's unlikely a paper return will be processed.  

Substitute for returns are based only on income the IRS is aware of.  They generally have no knowledge of expenses.  

Do file the return ASAP so it will be there when the employees return to work.  

All of my former co-workers at the IRS are not working and that includes managers, auditors, etc.

[mwcpa]

another reason why one should file their tax filings by the due date....

it is up to you to comply with the law (that Congress wrote) and timely file.... the IRS has no choice when you fail to do your legally required part and the result is that they can (and do) file a lien.

[sports222]

    Thanks for the replies everyone. The old returns are being mailed in. So no matter how much time has passed since a subsitute return has been filed by the IRS, you can always submit your real return in to take its place? I just want to make sure that an incorrect lien amount will get corrected/eliminated even though a lot of time has passed.
   
    Since the IRS sent letters about this to an outdated address, I received none of the letters warning me of the lien. Thus I have no idea what the letters said or if I missed any deadlines to get the lien corrected. I only discovered the lien when searching through my county's registry of deeds. Thanks in advance for any further info.

[mwcpa]

The only way the IRS and many taxing agencies have your address is based upon data you supply to them.  Generally, putting in a change of address at the USPS is limited and mail is only forwarded for a relatively short period of time as it is your responsibility to notify change of address details.

Assuming the delinquent income tax return filed is acceptable to the taxing agencies any substitute filing and lien should be released.  Given the shut down of the government by Congressional political fighting expect that the normal 6-8 weeks to process a paper tax filing (even longer for delinquent ones) to take even longer.  One needs to be patient in this regard, especially when the issue was created by failing to comply with the law by the taxpayer, not the government making a mistake. 

As I noted early, this is a prime reason why it is important to file a tax return by the dates mandated by law and not delay them, the damage that can come takes a long time to clear.

[TheOtherMe]

Form 8822 can be used to change your home mailing address with the Internal Revenue Service.

As mwcpa has noted, I would also expect processing will take longer because most IRS employees were not working during the government shutdown.  

Please file your future tax returns timely.  Things like substitute for returns don't happen if you do so.  Substitute for returns do tend to catch the attention of the taxpayer though.