I too would suggest hiring a professional, but if you want to go it on your own you definitely need to reply to the letter.

If you or your wife never worked for door dash, tell the IRS.

Acknowledge the notice number and date in the top right corner


Tell the IRS you nor your wife ever worked for door dash in any capacity and this amount is in error.


Finally state you disagree with all changes to your original return.

Sign with your wife and attach the response page to the letter and send it to the IRS.


Reply by the requested date. Right now is the easiest it will be do communicate and solve this issue.

Well I got my letter sent off to the IRS today certified mail return receipt requested.... $8.43
I also was able to get ahold of someone a Door Dash and it only took 2 calls and pushing hundreds of buttons on my phone. Talked to two people who could hardly speak English . I was told to email them some info and actually got a response back saying they were looking into it and would get back to me in 10 business days.
Here's hoping this will be easier than it was going to get my daughters car title transferred into my name.
Thanks for the well wishes and help getting this kick started.

quote:

Originally posted by marksman41:
....If you do take advantage of this option try to find an EA that has been to tax court against the IRS and won. Not a necessary requirement, but a good one to have.

It's my understanding that an EA can represent taxpayers at administrative levels but are not allowed to represent a taxpayer in Tax Court.

quote:

Originally posted by rexles:
Well I got my letter sent off to the IRS today certified mail return receipt requested.... $8.43
I also was able to get ahold of someone a Door Dash and it only took 2 calls and pushing hundreds of buttons on my phone. Talked to two people who could hardly speak English . I was told to email them some info and actually got a response back saying they were looking into it and would get back to me in 10 business days.
Here's hoping this will be easier than it was going to get my daughters car title transferred into my name.
Thanks for the well wishes and help getting this kick started.

I'm a CPA with 30+ years of big 4 and national CPA firm experience. Handled LOTs of IRS notices and exams.

Not sure it's worth your while/frustration dealing with Door Dash. I'm not sure what they can say unless they have a typo in the SSN. I'm thinking the most efficient approach is to assume someone gave Door Dash your SSN.

Hopefully your letter to the IRS mentioned this was a case of identity theft and hopefully you've reviewed the information on the IRS website regarding steps to take when identity theft occurs.

Hopefully your letter specifically asked that the amount be abated and requested an meeting with IRS Appeals if the amount is not abated.

BTW, I find that return receipt from the IRS is hit or miss. You can use the IRS website to track the letter and confirm delivery. If the letter is not received by the IRS, you should send it again. (If this happens, reach out to me and I'll share how to format the follow-up.)

There are additional requirements that an EA has to meet to be able to represent at tax court - I know two people who have done it - but I don't remember what's involved. My understanding is that it takes quite a bit of study and knowledge to make the grade.

However, you are right that not just every EA has this permission. It's a good correction to make for others to understand. Thank you!

quote:

Originally posted by marksman41:
There are additional requirements that an EA has to meet to be able to represent at tax court - I know two people who have done it - but I don't remember what's involved. My understanding is that it takes quite a bit of study and knowledge to make the grade.

However, you are right that not just every EA has this permission. It's a good correction to make for others to understand. Thank you!

I don't think a single large (say top 10) CPA firm allows their partners or employees to represent taxpayers in Tax Court. If you go to Tax Court you need a tax attorney that is familiar with all the legal procedures. You want someone that does this full time. Not once or twice.

I've had 2 or 3 occasions where clients were going to Tax Court. Client hired me to handle the technical issues but they also engaged a Tax Attorney to make sure all procedural/legal issues were handled. (All were settled so I never actually got to go to court.)

I don't know what to tell you, SR. I personally know two people who are EAs and both have been to tax court multiple times for their clients and both having winning records.

I'm not sure what you're looking for here. I gave the OP an option to consider and, with your information for a correction, it still holds. At this stage of the game an EA would be as effective, and perhaps less costly, than a CPA or tax attorney. Based on my past experience, I don't see the OP's issue going to tax court. So that portion of my advice is probably moot but I included it just as a possibility - something to consider and prepare for.

If you're wanting to tell me I'm wrong, well, I know I'm not, but if it makes you feel better then okay. If you're trying to persuade the OP to not use an EA and go with a CPA or tax attorney, that's fine too. I have no dog in this fight other than he's a SIGforum member who needed assistance.

First I'm sorry to hear that your daughter passed. What a horrible one-two punch.

10 years ago, I received my own demand letter from the IRS claiming I had improperly credited deductions from a phantom employer. The accusatory tone in the letter was amazing. It was like I was some sort of terrorist/highway robber and that I should be sitting in a prison cell for decades.

What had happened was that I changed employers partway through the year and the IRS failed to look at the 1099 from my first employer. Their fault alone as I confirmed with HR that the 1099 was sent to the IRS and, of course, I had my own copy.

I sent them a certified letter with a copy of both 1099s and pointed out that if they actually looked at the information in the first 1099, they would find that, to the penny, I was correct and that they had made the mistake not me. A few months letter, I simply got a brief form letter stating the issue was resolved and I did not owe back taxes and penalties. No apology, no admission they had made the mistake, nothing. They simply moved on like nothing had happened.

quote:

No apology, no admission they had made the mistake, nothing. They simply moved on like nothing had happened.

That's all you want. If you're looking for an apology or acknowledgment of how they got to a wrong answer you came to the wrong party.

Well we got an email from Door Dash saying they did find a fraudulent account and suspended it.
They said they do NOT issue amended 1099s and I could use the email to send to the IRS to prove there was indeed fraud and my wife never did drive for them.
I still have not gotten a response from our friends at the IRS.. They just got my letter 3/28/24 and I have not yet received a return receipt from the USPS. I will give it a couple more days and wait for a response from Big.GOV.
I would assume they have some kind of case file number and I don't want to send them anymore paperwork without having that number attached.
I also now have IP PIN numbers for my wife and I for the future filings. I also have a fraud alert on the big 3 credit reporting agencies and a credit freeze in place.
I don't think there was any fraudulent 1099s for this years 2023 filing because I already got a letter saying the IRS was not allowing my tax credit I claimed in 2023 for a new wood stove. Since nothing was said about additional income not claimed I will let my accountant worry about that.
Wish me luck!
Now I have to deal with a lawyer to file a mini estate so I can get my deceased daughters car title switched over to my name.
More government red tape!!!

I have had similar issues with the IRS. Took about 12 months to resolve. Keep us posted.

I just sent off my DoorDash email letter to the IRS office in Maryland and now we wait to see if they accept the letter as proof of fraud.
I sent in 2023 tax liability before the April 15 deadline.
I can only imagine I will be put under a microscope by .gov for the next several tax filing years.

I got a letter (finally) from our friends at IRS and they have found in my favor and I no longer owe back taxes for someone's fraud .
Thanks to all who offered advice and for the condolences.
I do have PIN numbers now and hopefully who ever else has my wife's SS number will not be able to cause problems

quote:

Originally posted by rexles:
I also now have IP PIN numbers for my wife and I for the future filings.

IP PIN FTW. I have had one since they came out. No one can file in your name without it, not even you. I found out one year when I forgot to include it on my return, which was rejected. I was able to refile with the IP PIN on the form, and all was well.

^^^^ Re: “IP PIN”

Several years ago I established an online IRS account. Part of the process required me to get a PIN from the IRS, delivered via US mail. Is that PIN an “IP PIN”?

ETA – it’s not:
“An Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) is a six-digit number that prevents someone else from filing a tax return using your Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). The IP PIN is known only to you and the IRS.”

https://www.irs.gov/identity-t...u%20and%20the%20IRS.

BTW, that IRS account is very useful. I use it to securely pay my federal taxes. And to see records of past payments. Nowadays, a LOGIN.GOV or an ID.me account is required to login to the IRS account.