Accepted Answer

Hello again dazed,

Thank you for the clarification.

This really should not be an issue for you, but I have learned in the past that you just never know what you might run in to with the IRS. You are correct in the fact that it is sometimes very difficult or next to impossible to find someone to actually talk with about your account who can give you any meaningful information. Once they have your account tagged with mis-information, it can be very time consuming to get it corrected.

While I realize that you should not have to go these lengths, I would strongly suggest that you go in person to a local IRS office in your area and take a copy of those returns with you. It's the one way you will know for certain that they have them in their hands. And hopefully if you can do that you can receive some kind of written confirmation from them that they now have these returns.

Since you owed no tax for those years, then once the IRS actually acknowledges receipt of these returns, that should enable them to release any liens they have put in place, but they will not do they are satisified that the returns have actually been filed. Which is why I recommend taking them in person to a local office, as I am sure you would like to get any liens removed as soon as you can.

If going to a local office is not an option for you, then your only other recourse here is to respond to the letters you have been receiving, and again send them copies of your returns. Make sure the correspondence is addressed to the IRS center handling your case.

If all else fails you may try contacting your local taxpayer advocate's office. The taxpayers advocates are a group of volunteers who can help a taxpayer who has been unable to directly solve his problems on his own with the IRS. They have ways of getting around some of the red tape you might otherwise encounter.

The taxpayers advocates office toll free number is (XXX) XXX-XXXX. By calling that number they can then put you in touch with the nearest local advocate's office in your area.

If this was helpful please press the Accept button. Positive feedback is also appreciated.

Thank you dazed.

Expert:	Merlo
Pos. Feedback:	99.8 %
Accepts:
Answered:	9/29/2009

Accountant

25+ years tax consulting. Specializing in returns for US citizens living abroad