The IRS has been sending a letter to me over and over (about 4 times now, at my last 4 addresses, some of which were forwarded, others picked up by relatives), for over a year now. Strangely, it seemed to start just after the FTB started bugging me...hmmm....
Anyway, it is letter 2797. This is a harmless looking letter which says that they need your help in updating their records with your latest address. It shows the address that the letter was sent to, and you are to checkmark either YES or NO and sign, stating that the address is or is not you. If not, then fill in your real address.
The thing to watch out for is that the name and address are in all uppercase, federal zip style. Knowing what we know here about the uppercase name, if you screw up, checkmark YES and sign it, you've just admitted that you are the ALLCAPS name fiction. Subtle...
Many people say that you should update the IRS, in order to make sure they don't send you an offer of contract to a bogus address and claim you were served. I've been of the opinion for a while that the less they have from me with a signature, the better. Besides a letter 8 years ago asking if I've ever filed under another name, they only have exempt w-4's with my signature (and the last two with ucc1-207).
Anyway, while I'm pondering what to do with this (inform them of the new address, or keep them in the dark about my location), I looked at the codes on the letter top, and looked them up on the IRS internal manual website. The thing has no name or signature, only a title: Compliances Field service director (or something like that). These have been coming out of their Austin location.
Anyway, two codes on the top right of interest: BOD and CP. BOD is business operating division, and cp is computer paragraph.
The previous letters and the current letter have BOD code of WI (wages and investment). However, the CP number has changed. In the past 3 letters, it was 515. As anyone who's dealt with the IRS in the past knows, a real CP-515 letter/form is a request for tax return. This letter is NOT that, but I think it was a prelude to it. However, since they never got anything from me, I'm not sure what it was that caused them to change the code in the latest letter. It is now TDI ( taxpayer delinquent investigation).
According to this page:
IRM online, I'm somehow in the automated collection system. TDI and TDA ( taxpayer delinquent account) are the two different categories listed. So I guess TDI isn't as bad as TDA.
Hmm... Normally, for those who've filed in the past, who get a real cp-515 letter, the next step would be a cp-518 letter ("You Didn't Respond Regarding Your Tax Return"). Because the code on this letter didn't advance to 518, and is now TDI, I'm wondering where this puts me in their system. Better or worse? Would replying move it to "worse" faster than stalling with no answer?
Some would say to send it back refused, or claiming that no OMB number invalidates it. I'm not sure yet if I want then to know where I am. I'm sure it can't be good to let them know where my STUFF is located. I am trying to avoid a tangle with them after 17 years of silence. I'm thinking the losers at the FTB might have something to do with this.
Hmm... just thought I'd warn people about this letter before someone signed it YES and declared themselves to be the ALL CAPS fiction.