Are You Sure I Had To Verify My ID?

[tara berks]

#7433

Are You Sure I Had To Verify My ID?

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[Refundtalk]

#7434

I tracked down the IRS Standard Operational Procedures and Guidelines, and here is what the IRS is going to do whenever you call and inquire about your tax refund. This is straight from the IRS operational manual:

For purposes of identification and to prevent unauthorized disclosures of tax information, you must know with whom you are speaking, complete name and title and the purpose of the call/contact. It may be necessary to ask the caller or visitor if he or she is an individual taxpayer (primary or secondary), a business taxpayer (sole proprietor, partner, or corporate officer), or an authorized third party.

Inadequate authentication of the identity of a caller could result in an “unauthorized disclosure” of return or return information. If an IRS employee makes a knowing or negligent unauthorized disclosure, the United States may be liable for damages. See IRC section 7213, IRC section 7213A, and IRC section 7431. If an IRS employee makes a voluntary, intentional disclosure, the employee may be subject to criminal penalties including a fine, imprisonment, and loss of employment.

Required authentication probes:

1. Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), Social Security Number (SSN), Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) – If the taxpayer is inquiring about a jointly filed return, only one TIN is necessary, preferably the primary number. The secondary TIN may be required if the primary is unavailable, or for use as an additional authentication check. See IRM 3.21.263.7.1, Disclosure Guidelines for ITIN Data, for specific ITIN research. Note: In the event, the name and TIN provided by the caller at the beginning of the call do not match our records, ask the caller to verify their information. Terminate the call if, after probing, the information provided still does not match our records. Ask the caller to check their records and call back.
2. Name – as it appears on the tax return (for the tax year(s) in question), including spouses name for a joint return.
3. Current address – If a taxpayer fails to provide the correct address of record, but correctly responds to all of the other items, (IMF – name, TIN, and date of birth) you may request additional taxpayer authentication pursuant to IRM 21.1.3.2.4, Additional Taxpayer Authentication. Note: If you are unable to verify the address on the Integrated Data Retrieval System (IDRS), request the address as it appears on the last tax return or as modified by IRS records.
4. Date of birth (DOB) of the primary or secondary taxpayer – If the taxpayer fails the DOB probe, but correctly responds to all other items above (name, TIN, address), you may request additional taxpayer authentication pursuant to IRM 21.1.3.2.4, Additional Taxpayer Authentication. Note: If there is a discrepancy with the DOB on IRS records (CC INOLE) but you are confident (taxpayer has passed authentication requirements) that you are speaking with the taxpayer, advise the taxpayer to contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) at 1-800-772-1213 to correct the error.

So what does that all mean? It means that you have to verify your identity whenever you contact the IRS! So stop worrying about it or thinking that it had anything to do with your return.

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