The I.R.S. backlog problem is a serious one at this part, and it’s almost becoming a joke. The commissioner came in at the beginning of the year and said that the backlog would be cleared by the end of 2022. Well, let’s check in on the status of that right now. So as of the end of last year, the I.R.S. had 4.7 million returns that were waiting to be worked. And now, as of March 12th, how many do they have? 4.5 million, at this pace, we’re going to be 20 years in before they clear the backlog.
Also, on March 12th, that was before the corporate filing deadline and the individual tax deadline for 2021. And there had to be way more added to that after those deadlines. So March 12th was probably trying to take a look at this at an opportune moment. I think the curve has switched now to where there are more unprocessed returns right now than at the end of last year. That has to be the case.
They have a correspondence of over 7.6 million cases. So if you have written a letter to the I.R.S. If you’re waiting on them to process a return, I suggest patience, but I know that’s no, not a real answer to the problem, but we’re all just going to have to sit back and wait. It’s very frustrating. I myself have a personal return that I have submitted correspondence on, and it has been a year and a half. I get a letter every so often, and I’m checking transcripts regularly, and it has still not been resolved.
One of the things people ask me is how can I get through? Is there a certain number I can call the I.R.S.? Is there some secret thing that I can do? The answer is no. FROM WHAT I HEAR, the I.R.S. is answering only about 6% of their calls right now. So if you are going to make an effort to call, my suggestion would be to call at 7:00 AM. If you’re on Eastern time, try to get through when the line’s first open. Other than that, I don’t know what to suggest. I don’t even have an answer. We’ve never seen anything like this, but I suggest that let’s try to avoid having to have the I.R.S. add to the pile of correspondence and unprocessed returns whenever possible.
So please remember, let’s e-file our returns. We do that as much as we can. The only time we ever pay to file a return is if we can’t e-file for some known or unknown reason. So if you have correspondence to send to the I.R.S., I highly suggest that you do that via certified mail so that you have proof of making your case. Things tend to get lost in a pile of 7.6 million cases. So let’s not have yours do that. If you’re waiting again, it’s going to be a long while. So let’s sit back and enjoy the ride for a while—nothing we can do but laugh.
I’m Donna Bordeaux with PYOPAccounting.com. Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Check out our blog and our website from the link below. Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell to be notified when we post. To contact me, email me at donna@pyopaccounting.com.
Donna Bordeaux, CPA with PYOPAccounting.com
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