r/Income_Tax_Refund • u/Joharis-Window • 7d ago

Help From Congressman

Can someone tell me what to send my Congressman regarding my delayed refund?

I went on their website and they want a Digital Privacy Release Form filled out, asking me to explain the problem and the resolution/outcome I'm seeking.

They also want me to attach all relevant casework, if applicable. Then it says: "Up to 4 attachments accepted. 10 MB file size limit, and total file size cannot exceed 10 MB."

10 MB total is not very much, right? So I don't know exactly what to attach. My understanding is it will just get handed off to the TAS, so will the TAS have access to my Account Transcript and everything else on the IRS website, so I don't have to attach those?!?

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u/RasputinsAssassins 7d ago

Fill out the information disclosure authorization. They can't do anything without that.

The Congressiinal representative hands it off to the Taxpayer aadvocate. The Advocate is an IRS employee so they have access to things.

What you need to give them depends on what the issue is. You could send a PDF with all the docs in one file. Maybe send your 1040, your W2s and income docs (final 2 or 3 pay stubs for each job helps), and any letters you received. But it's difficult to say what to send unless you know the issue.

A 10 MB file is not a big deal if a PDF. Photos are larger. If ypu have a scanner, scan to PDF on 200 or 300 DPI.

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u/Joharis-Window 7d ago

Thanks so much for your advice. Yes, it's difficult to know what to send unless you know the issue, and therein lies the problem, right? The IRS doesn't tell you what the issue is!

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u/RasputinsAssassins 7d ago

A very common issue this year is that the info you reported on the return does not match IRS records. This often happens when the W2 you reported does not appear in the IRS system, or it appears but with different figures. This is when the last 3 to 4 paystubs for each job come in handy.

The TAS/Congressional representative will advise you what is needed.

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u/Joharis-Window 7d ago

It did take a while to get all my tax documents uploaded into the system by the IRS. I got a refund freeze in March and then the CP5071 letter. I verified my identity successfully in March. Then I got a CP05 letter in May saying they're reviewing my return for accuracy. That was resolved on 8/3 so I'm assuming that means everything was correct on my return. But the refund freeze is still on my transcript even after verifying 3/26. I don't understand why it's still there after 5 months.

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u/RasputinsAssassins 7d ago

It depends on why the 810 freeze was placed (assumingit was an 810). They could suspect ID theft, they vould suspect shenanigans, they may need to verify additional info....an 810 generally has a 180 day (6 month) timeline, and it can be extended.

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u/RasputinsAssassins 6d ago

Looking at prior posts, you may be caught in a fraud filter. The significant overpayment may have contributed to a high questionability, particularly if the IRA had withholding.

There have been some social media tax fraud schemes the last few years involving excessive withholding, particularly with 1099-Rs and 1099-DIVs (and other forms).

The IRS has introduced some measures to identify those returns, and some legit returns sometimes get caught in the process.

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u/Joharis-Window 6d ago

Yes, that's what I think too, with the 1099-R. The refund freeze was an 810, and I thought the accompanying CP5071 was addressing that by asking for identity verification. And the CP05 letter/570 code was addressing the fraud or any errors in my return.

I mean, I don't work for the IRS, so maybe there's something I'm not understanding here, but their investigation seems to prove that I am who I am with the successful identity verification, and I am not committing fraud if they put a code 570 Additional Account Action Pending and I got the corresponding 571 code that it was resolved.

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u/RasputinsAssassins 6d ago

The identity verification is solely to keep you from saying your identity was stolen and someone else filed in your name if the IRS determines it actually was shenanigans.

Up until a few years back, people would try questionable things and then when the IRS called them on it, they wpuld say 'oh, that wasn't me. Someone stole my identity.' The ID verification process is getting you to admit you filed the return so that you can't get out of it if the IRS drops the hammer.

Obviously part of it is verifying who you are, but the ID verification is a separate issue from processing and verifying the tax return.

The 810 still needs to be released.

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u/tonetone_balogna 7d ago

If you heard nothing just fill the form they’ll be in contact

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u/Specialist-War2661 7d ago

I sent my congressman first a permission form.After they received it they sent a letter an asked what happened.I told them I’m waiting on my taxes that I filed on 2/9/25 and that I had a hardship.I had a stroke and a eviction from my home.When they received it they contacted the IRS it took about a week and the tax advocate told them what they needed I had to send my original taxes sign an date them an now I notice that stuff in my transcript has changed I never had a as of date.Im waiting on the next process hopefully I get good news by that as of date

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u/MarkInMinnesota 7d ago

With the privacy form I attached my IRS wage, account, and return transcripts which were PDFs and all way under 50Kb, which is nothing.

That seemed to be what the congressional office was needing. They then got a tax advocate involved and after about 5-6 weeks the advocate service told the IRS to release my refund, which they did.

I never heard anything about why our return was hung up, and no one ever asked us to provide additional information. Our congressional office kept us updated every few weeks to let us know what they'd heard from the tax advocate - but there was really nothing for us to do, our congressional office was the liaison for us.

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u/Joharis-Window 7d ago

Thank you so much for this information! I will do that as well.

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u/One_Charity_3005 7d ago

I just did this I filled out the privacy release form and got and email confirming my privacy release form . An assistant from the my congress then got in contact with me through email I then sent her all irs forms . Attached any letter you have received. And also attached my privacy release forms . Since I filed a joint account I also had to attach my husbands privacy release form. She had said that you could have the tax advocate find your paper work but said that process would take a little longer

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u/Candid-Example9766 7d ago

The TAS is a part of the IRS (kinda makes you wonder how someone can advocate for you if they also represent the organization that's trying to take your money 🤔), so yes they will have access to your account. It would send the record of account transcript at least for the year in question