Any suggestions on how to deal with this IRS issue?

In September 2021, I submitted my 2018, 2019 and 2020 tax returns to the IRS under the Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedure.

Tumbleweeds.... crickets.... nothing. I was kind of expecting to receive some sort of letter confirming that I'm now compliant, and i was definitely expecting to get the COVID payment (sorry, i can't remember what it's actually called) for 2020.

Last June I submitted my 2021 return, and received the 2021 COVID payment.

September 2022, when it had been a full year since I submitted my Streamlined Foreign Offshore thing, I wrote to the IRS to ask for an update. I got a letter back from them saying to allow them 60 days to investigate. 60 days later, i got *another* letter from the IRS asking for another 60 days to investigate.

That period has now passed.
The only reason i am so wound up about this is that i really NEED that money (the 2020 COVID payment). 

I was thinking of re-submitting the entire Streamlined Foreign Offshore packet.
I've also been thinking of submitting the 2020 tax return separately from the SFOP

What do you guys think i should do?

I'm going to the US for a visit in April... do you think there would be any benefit in sitting down for a few hours on 'hold' to their 1-800 phone number to speak to an actual person about this?

Thanks in advance for any responses!

IRS policy is never to respond to an SFOP filing. One assumes you have evidence of mailing, which is all that is required. You are separately asking how to chase a refund for 2020. You could easily phone the IRS from the UK, or alternatively file IRS Form 3911. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f3911.pdf

I have had a free Skype account for many years now. It costs nothing if you don’t want to have an incoming number for anyone to call, just add a few $ credit which is only used when you make calls. This was the method I used to use to make calls to our relatives and friends in the UK, cost about 2.3c/minute, before the days of free face to face video calling. However, I never cancelled that account when we moved to England and I suppose that there is still a small balance but I use it whenever I need to make US toll free calls (1-800 numbers)

I doubt you could create a US Skype account from the UK unless you have a US credit card and associated address but if you have relatives there, or you are over visiting, then maybe get an account set up and you can make hours long calls to places like the IRS for free from the UK. I was really grateful to have this option last year when it took hours on hold to get to talk to someone about my wife’s SS application which we could see in the system from her online SS account but was stuck on “approved - processing” for many months.

There may well be other free phone options available.

IRS policy is never to respond to an SFOP filing. One assumes you have evidence of mailing, which is all that is required. You are separately asking how to chase a refund for 2020. You could easily phone the IRS from the UK, or alternatively file IRS Form 3911. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f3911.pdf

This is brilliant information... i'm very grateful to know of this Form 3911!!!!!! 

An alternative is to create your own IRS online account here: https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account

This will allow you to see your filings for each individual year and therefore know that your Streamlined filings have been accepted.

Depending on your circumstances, it can be a bit of a phaff to get the account if you don't have a US telephone number, but it can be done by signing up through ID.Me (search the forum for details).

Much better than spending hours on hold with the IRS

IRS account is a bit tricky to set up but absolutely worth it. It’s been over three weeks and no refund yet for me. I should get details on my account profile as to why. Can’t imagine trying to call them.

@Barcrest @Smitch I’ve been locked out of my IRS online account since I came to the UK nearly 5 years ago. How have you made this work?

Use id.me - requires a video interview but it works.

More details on this thread - read it all!

https://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=99944.msg1317215#msg1317215

And my post with my experience:

Well although ID .me might not be long for this world, I had a go at registering this morning. Here's my experience:

Firstly I'd tried previously but failed due to the non-US address and non-US phone number. ID.Me had sent me an email asking if I wanted to continue or go directly to the video referee - I hadn't really paid attention to that previously, but selected that option. This took me to a different registration page and allowed me to enter my UK address, didn't ask for any telephone number. Then uploaded copies of my passport, social security card and a UK utility bill (Vodafone broadband).

This then took me to the waiting room - my wait time was 7 Minutes - YES - SEVEN MINUTES!!!!

I was actually in to the call in less than 4 minutes, video verification took about 3 or 4 minutes and that was it. Email received, and I'm into my IRS account.

I started and submitted my documents @ 9:58am this morning.

At least I now know the IRS has not yet processed my 2020 paper filed return (my own fault as I field late - mid December).

Wow, I had no idea!! This is absolutely brilliant. Thank you so much for the info!

Great reply @smitch

An alternative is to create your own IRS online account here: https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account

This will allow you to see your filings for each individual year and therefore know that your Streamlined filings have been accepted.

Depending on your circumstances, it can be a bit of a phaff to get the account if you don't have a US telephone number, but it can be done by signing up through ID.Me (search the forum for details).

Much better than spending hours on hold with the IRS

I've done the whole IDme video thing, and was able to set up the IRS online account, but whenever i click on 'view tax records', it always just says 'your tax records information is unavailable at this time'.

I also have an app on my phone called IRS2go, which is meant to let you see your refund status, but whenever i try to use that it just says my information doesn't match.

I often get that problem if I try and log in too early. I think the IRS do work overnight. The IRS2Go app works fine for me though.

alternatively file IRS Form 3911. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f3911.pdf

Any idea how long this should take? I posted it off in March... 

Just bumping this up to see if anyone has any knowledge about how long the IRS are taking to deal with a Form 3911.

Just bumping this up to see if anyone has any knowledge about how long the IRS are taking to deal with a Form 3911.

I wish I could give you some useful info, but I really have no idea.  I didn't even know such a form existed until this thread.