IRS can't process our return without original signature??? HELP...

[frannn]

We are expecting a large refund that we were going to pay a ton of bills with. Just got a notice in the mail today (of course on the Sat of a holiday weekend ) that they can not process without our orig signatures. I had sent copies, because I completed the return in pencil. In this notice, they give you a return window envelope and a coupon you can put in there with their address, but only if making a payment. It does say you can fax whatever info they require, but would that include signatures? The letter says not to both fax and mail because that could delay processing further. I would love to take care of this right now via fax, if possible, because it says the return will now take another 6-8 weeks to process. Anybody ever have this issue?

 

[Starbrite]

We are expecting a large refund that we were going to pay a ton of bills with. Just got a notice in the mail today (of course on the Sat of a holiday weekend ) that they can not process without our orig signatures. I had sent copies, because I completed the return in pencil. In this notice, they give you a return window envelope and a coupon you can put in there with their address, but only if making a payment. It does say you can fax whatever info they require, but would that include signatures? The letter says not to both fax and mail because that could delay processing further. I would love to take care of this right now via fax, if possible, because it says the return will now take another 6-8 weeks to process. Anybody ever have this issue?

Sorry, I can't help you. Your best bet is to wait until the office is open & call.

I thought it said right on the forms that they must be completed in ink & copies will not be accepted.

 

[bumbershoot]

I would definitely call them. Despite their reputation, the IRS agents I've spoken with have never been anything but sweet, kind, and polite, even when giving bad news (about my FIL who had just died and it turned out hadn't filed their taxes in 6 years unbeknownst to his wife).

I understand why you would want to do the taxes in pencil, because you can make mistakes. But the forms are free to pick up at the library, etc, so next year, pick up a few, and after you get it done to your liking, copy it over in pen.

Or better yet, do it online! First year you do have to send your sig (if I recall correctly) but after that you do an online verification that you are you (which is actually how FIL managed to lie to his wife, because he did it properly the first year and subsequent years just told her he did it and since she didn't need to sign anything, she had no way of knowing).

I've even done a hybrid...worked it all through on turbotax or taxact, then copied it over to paper. But now that taxact is free (and I don't have state tax that I'd have to pay to e-file), I just do it online.

Anyway, don't be afraid of them, just call!

 

[dawson5]

When my hubby first took a job in Indiana, I stayed in Ohio to let our son finish school and sell the house. I had to take the taxes to be done in Ohio, still our legal residence, we had to file two state taxes. Anyways, the tax preparers faxed our form to him in Indiana, for him to review and sign. This was a first for them, they reviewed it and said we were not allowed to submit our tax return with a faxed signature.

 

[NYCDiane]

Why in the world would you paper file???? If you file online, you can have your federal refund within 2 weeks. This year, it took me 9 days to get my federal refund and 2 weeks for my state refund.

Also, why would you fill out the forms in PENCIL??????

 

[Luvchefmic]

Sorry you are in this situation, no point stressing about something you can do nothing about now...just remember call them Tuesday 1st thing since Mon is Memorial Day

 

[bumbershoot]

Why in the world would you paper file???? If you file online, you can have your federal refund within 2 weeks. This year, it took me 9 days to get my federal refund and 2 weeks for my state refund.

Also, why would you fill out the forms in PENCIL??????

You do it in pencil in case you make mistakes. Of course, copying it in pen is needed.

And many people file with paper because they aren't getting a refund, don't *need* that refund immediately, don't trust efile stuff, don't think efile is free (taxact is now to everyone for federal filing), are filing complicated returns that they don't want to pay to do online...or they just plain old don't WANT to do it online. Plenty of reasons that make perfect sense to people, even if they don't to you.

 

[NYCDiane]

You do it in pencil in case you make mistakes. Of course, copying it in pen is needed.

Even if you do your "scrap" copy in pencil, why in the world would you do your final filing copy in pencil?? That makes absolutely no sense at all

And many people file with paper because they aren't getting a refund, don't *need* that refund immediately, don't trust efile stuff, don't think efile is free (taxact is now to everyone for federal filing), are filing complicated returns that they don't want to pay to do online...or they just plain old don't WANT to do it online. Plenty of reasons that make perfect sense to people, even if they don't to you.

Well, the OP said she was counting on the refund to pay off bills so we know that 1. she's getting a refund and 2. she needs the refund money.

I would trust e-filing long before I would trust filing a paper return and mailing it with the USPS. Between outsourced contractors that work for the USPS, mail that gets "lost" or mangled, and mail that just gets misdirected, you never know whose hands your return will end up in.

Additionally, if the return is complicated, all the more reason to do it with tax software that will walk you through every single thing, step by step, and review for mistakes. I use TurboTax and it's very inexpensive, very simple to use, and I will have copies of my returns right on my computer should I ever need them. I can also quickly access them through the Turbo Tax site from anywhere if I ever need them.

I guess that what makes sense to other people end up costing them more time and trouble in the long run. Had the OP filed electronically, she would have had her return weeks ago and her bills would have been paid. Now, chances are, she won't have her refund until late June or even July. Let's hope she can reach someone at the IRS on Tuesday and get this problem correctly as quickly as possible.

 

[Tinkmom]

Even if you do your "scrap" copy in pencil, why in the world would you do your final filing copy in pencil?? That makes absolutely no sense at all


Well, the OP said she was counting on the refund to pay off bills so we know that 1. she's getting a refund and 2. she needs the refund money.

I would trust e-filing long before I would trust filing a paper return and mailing it with the USPS. Between outsourced contractors that work for the USPS, mail that gets "lost" or mangled, and mail that just gets misdirected, you never know whose hands your return will end up in.

Additionally, if the return is complicated, all the more reason to do it with tax software that will walk you through every single thing, step by step, and review for mistakes. I use TurboTax and it's very inexpensive, very simple to use, and I will have copies of my returns right on my computer should I ever need them. I can also quickly access them through the Turbo Tax site from anywhere if I ever need them.

I guess that what makes sense to other people end up costing them more time and trouble in the long run. Had the OP filed electronically, she would have had her return weeks ago and her bills would have been paid. Now, chances are, she won't have her refund until late June or even July. Let's hope she can reach someone at the IRS on Tuesday and get this problem correctly as quickly as possible.

Maybe her "scrap" copy ended up being her final copy. Besides, apparently you missed the point that that is why she made a copy, so it wasn't sent in pencil and the IRS didn't have a problem with the figures not being original, so moot point.

Many people aren't crazy about the online programs and would prefer not to pay for a mediocre program. (You may think they are great and wonderful but clearly not everyone agrees with that. What makes sense to YOU would seem like a bad idea to others._ Not sure why you think online refunds come
"weeks" earlier than paper filing, because that isn't the reality.

I'm sure the OP now realizes she should have made the copy before signing, then signed return. At this point, since no mail will be going anywhere until Tuesday anyway, I would call them first thing Tuesday morning and be prepared to mail in the original signature copy.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Did they send back the entire Form 1040? Or did they just send you a page for you to sign?

Assuming they just sent you the signature page, I'd call the phone number listed on the letter first thing Tuesday morning. Ask if you can fax the signature page. Most times, they will accept a faxed signature, but you'd have to request it.

If they sent back the entire Form 1040, you may still be able to efile, and get your refund in two weeks.

 

[NYCDiane]

Maybe her "scrap" copy ended up being her final copy. Besides, apparently you missed the point that that is why she made a copy, so it wasn't sent in pencil and the IRS didn't have a problem with the figures not being original, so moot point.

You can't send a photocopy to the IRS or the state. They have to be done and signed in original ink.

Not sure why you think online refunds come
"weeks" earlier than paper filing, because that isn't the reality.

Yes, that is the reality. A return that is filed electronically will be processed immediately upon receipt and you will have your refund within 14 days (for direct deposit) to 21 days (paper check) so long as you filed everything properly. A return that is filed on paper and mailed? It takes 6 to 8 weeks to get your refund whether you're getting direct deposit or a paper check. That is a fact whether you want to believe it or not.

 

[dawson5]

We had to paper file this year because someone used my son's social security number. It would not allow the number to be used twice.

We don't know the reason for the OP's tax return being paper filed. It could have been something out of her control.

 

[clutter]

You can't send a photocopy to the IRS or the state. They have to be done and signed in original ink.



Yes, that is the reality. A return that is filed electronically will be processed immediately upon receipt and you will have your refund within 14 days (for direct deposit) to 21 days (paper check) so long as you filed everything properly. A return that is filed on paper and mailed? It takes 6 to 8 weeks to get your refund whether you're getting direct deposit or a paper check. That is a fact whether you want to believe it or not.

Here's how you file a paper pencil copy. You complete the return, copy it, then sign it. (Blue ink is best so it's clear that it's an original signature.) Started doing that in the dark ages, when I started working for an accounting firm right around the birth of PCs.

Anyway, in some cases, faxed signatures are considered originals, in some cases, not. In many cases, electronic filings are considered originals and sometimes not. You have to find out from the IRS what they're rulings are wrt faxes and electronic signatures. I do know, however, that they will not take a paper copy of one.

I filed paper, and my refund came pretty quick, fwiw.

 

[Tinkmom]

You can't send a photocopy to the IRS or the state. They have to be done and signed in original ink.



Yes, that is the reality. A return that is filed electronically will be processed immediately upon receipt and you will have your refund within 14 days (for direct deposit) to 21 days (paper check) so long as you filed everything properly. A return that is filed on paper and mailed? It takes 6 to 8 weeks to get your refund whether you're getting direct deposit or a paper check. That is a fact whether you want to believe it or not.

Why the aggression? Again, your "fact" is simply wrong. My personal experience directly contradicts your "fact" and I find it really odd how you insist that you (and apparently only you) know the facts of the IRS. My daughter filed her return electronically on the same day I MAILED my return. Her refund was direct deposited only TWO DAYS before mine. Even though I know for a FACT that my paper return resulted in a refund in 3 weeks, I would not presume to state that it is a FACT that all paper returns are processed at that same rate. Dissemination of incorrect info is obviously not helpful.

 

[VagueFury]

The 6-8 weeks thing versus 2 weeks is because you are (practically) guarantied to get the refund in 2 weeks if you do it online, but it can take 6-8 weeks if you mail it. It doesn't always take so long, but when I used to mail it in, it usually took at least 6 weeks and now I get it in 2 or less every time. I actually like filling them out by hand though, so I usually do one by hand for my files and then do an online one for the IRS. I don't get how anyone is still dealing with taxes though. I thought I was a procrastinator!

 

[bonoriffic]

My personal experience directly contradicts your "fact" and I find it really odd how you insist that you (and apparently only you) know the facts of the IRS.

Well your personal experience seems to prove the point that electronic is faster.

The IRS themselves state these facts. (Not to say there aren't exceptions and variances, but electronic is 99% of the time faster)

https://sa1.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofonlinehelp.jsp

 

[Tinkmom]

Well your personal experience seems to prove the point that electronic is faster.

The IRS themselves state these facts. (Not to say there aren't exceptions and variances, but electronic is 99% of the time faster)

https://sa1.www4.irs.gov/irfof/lang/en/irfofonlinehelp.jsp

Um, no one disputed electronic being faster. My personal experience was that electronic was 2 days faster. I would not be surprised if electronic is routinely more fast than that. I know that the IRS much prefers electronic filing.

The point was to refute the statement/argument of PP that electronic refunds always come weeks earlier: "Yes, that is he reality. A return that is filed electronically will be processed immediately upon receipt and you will have your refund within 14 days (for direct deposit) to 21 days (paper check) so long as you filed everything properly. A return that is filed on paper and mailed? It takes 6 to 8 weeks to get your refund whether you're getting direct deposit or a paper check. That is a fact whether you want to believe it or not."

As I know, from my personal experiences that it is NOT A FACT that "it takes 6 to 8 weeks to get your refund" if you file a paper return, I simply wanted to put all of the information out there.