The IRS Wage & Investment Division would like to address ongoing questions about certain Practitioner Priority Service line services.
PPS assistors will continue to work with Forms 2848/8821/8655 representatives to assist with client tax issues by verbally providing certain information from a transcript. Examples include allocating misapplied payments, correcting math error issues, account adjustments, balance due and missing returns.
The resolution of collection delinquencies will now be exclusively handled by SB/SE’s Automated Collection System (ACS). The IRS understands this is a shift in procedure. Work is underway to update notices to ensure the notice contains the appropriate phone number for the area that is best suited to assist with the customer/client issue.
The IRS has provided clarifying guidance to our PPS assistors that they can provide verbal account balance information, which is a common question. However, under this new division of responsibilities, they WILL NOT be able to take any actions for collection activities, including installment agreements and short-term payment plans. The taxpayer or their authorized representative must contact ACS for these account resolutions. Please note that third parties authorized via Form 8821 and Form 8655 are not authorized to act on behalf of the taxpayer to resolve collection delinquencies.
With changes to call routing, some third-party callers might need to be transferred to the correct IRS office. To minimize service disruptions, the PPS automated recording has been updated to say: “If your client’s account is in Automated Collection System status, ACS, or you need to address balance due issues, press or say 4.”
The IRS apologizes for any inconvenience. It is hoped that these changes to the division of work will help the IRS provide better overall telephone service across our organization.
Questions? Contact Senior Stakeholder Liaison Evette Davis at Evette.Davis@irs.gov.
