Possible to contact IRS?

So some weeks ago I submitted my Streamlined Compliance package to the address in Austin, TX.

I chose the most expensive Airsure tracked option, but of course there has been a problem.

It made it the US and was tracked leaving the sorting office on December 3rd (1hour from destination address) but is not marked as delivered. Probably it has been delievered but they forgot to scan, but I need someway to find out to determine whether I need to send it again.

Is it possible to contact the Streamlined Compliance office in Austin to ask them if they received it? I have been unable to get through to IRS in London, IRS Internation office in Philadelphia, or USPS - it seems to be upwards of 1hour hold times for all of these. I guess I don't understand how people are supposed to do it - do people who live in the US take half a day off to sit on hold for hours everytime they have to contact a company?

Anyway, I wondered if anyone knew a number for the Austin office, or an email address I could contact the IRS on (fine if the reply takes some days - I just don't want to have to sit on hold for hours)?

I've sent two tax returns to Austin using Airsure. The first one stopped "tracking" between Dallas/Ft Worth and Austin. Never got a confirmation.

The 2nd one tracked to Austin, but not specifically to the IRS.

I did call the "regular" IRS number to confirm receipt, but it takes up to 60 days for a return to be logged in. Not sure about your situation, but I wouldn't panic just yet. Do you have family in the US who could call? They will need the address and your SSN for verification purposes.

Forget about calling the USPS - they won't be able to tell you anything, nor will Royal Mail.

Have you gone to the USPS site, gone to the page for tracking items, and then entered the code on your UK Airsure receipt? Your UK code works on the USPS site.

OOPS! Cross posted with Vadio.

Thanks folks.

Yes I have been tracking it with the USPS web site - I saw it arrive in NY, pass through Jamaica, NJ then San Antonio TX. It left San Antonio on December 3rd and nothing since then. I guess it just wasn't scanned on delivery.

Anyway I've calmed down now after my second day trying to get through the USPS menu system! I thought the US was so customer focussed it is hard to understand how such a tortuous system was developed!

I did get through to the IRS international phone line in the end - but there was nothing on the system. Really I wanted to try to get contact details for the office that handles the Streamlined applications just to see if it was delivered.

In the New Year I guess I will send another copy by FedEx just to be safe.

In the New Year I guess I will send another copy by FedEx just to be safe.

I would be careful doing this. It might be best to have confirmation one way or the other before putting a 2nd submission into the system. If you think USPS is a tortuous system, wait till you try complicating the IRS one.

You are weeks if not months too early to expect processing. You have proof of postage which is all that matters under US law.

Sure you can call the IRS - typical 'phone calls are slightly over 2 hours on average at present but whichever agent you finally get to speak with will not know anything until the returns have been processed.  The IRS never respond to streamlined filings so you have nothing to worry about.

Of course the streamlined program is not a contract because there is no consideration and the IRS do not agree anything in writing. If you wanted a contract with the IRS you could have selected the OVDP; which currently has reportedly an up to 12 month backlog to assign agents in some cases.

You could request a transcript in say 3 months to see if the IRS have processed them.

From a purely practical perspective, it is usually best to sort out  any psychological issues such as feelings of betrayal, anger, trauma, anxiety and so on with a tax professional before approaching the IRS especially given the uncertainty of the entire streamlined process.

A courier such as UPS, DHL, FedEx etc would have tracked the parcel to the destination at an IRS Service Center. Airsure does not.

From a purely practical perspective, it is usually best to sort out  any psychological issues such as feelings of betrayal, anger, trauma, anxiety and so on with a tax professional before approaching the IRS especially given the uncertainty of the entire streamlined process.

The big advantage of employing a professional is peace of mind.....as long as you get a good one that is. Anyway you pay then to do the returns, but also to relieve you of all the BS, the worry, anxiety and having to spend 2 hours on the phone to get zero satisfaction.

Every time I've sent anything 'airsure' to Austin, it's only been tracked to NY, or the point where it is handed over to USPS (it's Royal Mail policy). Every time, it's been just fine. Never once not fine. I've even taken to sending some stuff regular mail and that's been fine too. I'd relax.