Why was My Form 2848 Rejected?

Part I of Form 2848

One thing that I have learned in life and in my journey as an Enrolled Agent is that you don't know what you don't know. Learning the ropes of representing taxpayers can take time. Even when it comes to filling out Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration, which is the very first step in representing a taxpayer. After the engagement letter gets signed, and you're paid, of course.

Sometimes we mess up that very first step. Yes, even me. When I was starting, I had the IRS CAF unit reject a Form 2848 or two. I'm writing this article to share some common reasons the IRS rejects 2848s it receives.

I can tell you that the main reason is mistakes.

To help you avoid those mistakes, I've written an article to walk you through filling Form 2848 out correctly: A Step-by-Step Guide to Completing Form 2848 for Enrolled Agents.

Before assuming the IRS rejected your 2848, make sure you gave them enough time to process it. If you do not see it on your Tax Pro Online Account under taxpayers, then it likely isn't processed yet. Please take note of when you submitted it. There are now 5 ways to file your 2848 with the IRS. The list below shows the estimated time that it takes for the CAF unit to process each method.

How to Submit Form 2848 to the IRS

Tax Pro Account Request - The fastest method, and it gets approved almost immediately.

Submit Forms 2848/8821 Online via Secure Upload - Typically takes 4-10 business days.

Fax - This typically takes up to 2 weeks.

Mail - These take nearly 30 days to get processed by the CAF unit.

Fax to an IRS agent while on the phone - you can get the information you need while on the phone, and then the agent can send the 2848 to the CAF unit.

If 30 days have passed since you submitted your 2848, then it may be time to follow up with the IRS to see if the CAF unit rejected it. If it has been less than 30 days, do not submit another 2848; it may take longer to process.

10 Reasons Your Form 2848 Gets Rejected

1 - If the taxpayer is a business, the title of the person signing the POA is not indicated on page 2.

2 - You forgot to put your enrollment number when you signed the 2848.

3 - You forgot to put your Enrolled Agent Designation or the IRS as the jurisdiction before you signed the 2848.

4 - The taxpayer's signature and/or signature date are missing.

5 - You sent a copy with the taxpayer's signature but not yours as the representative.

6 - There are more than 45 days between the date the taxpayer signed the return and you signed the return (domestic). More than 60 days between the signatures if the client resides outside of the United States.

7 - Your client signed the form electronically, and you tried to submit it by fax or mail. An electronic signature is for use with the Tax Pro Account only.

8 - You didn't specify the acts that you're authorized to do by the taxpayer. When asked what periods you put, all periods or all future periods.

9 - You put the wrong dates. With your power of attorney, you can only go 3 years forward from the current date. So if you put 12/31/2030 in 2025, then the IRS will reject it.

10 - You checked the box on line 6 to retain or revoke the prior power(s) of attorney but you did not include a copy of the prior POAs 2848.

This is not an all-inclusive list of why the IRS will reject your 2848. But there are a few things that you may want to double-check before submitting your 2848 to ensure you don't delay representing your client.

Now It's Your Turn

1 - Have you filled out a 2848 before? If so, what is a rookie mistake that you made? Let us know in the comments to help someone else avoid it, too.

2 - You do not have to have tax resolution software to prepare a Form 2848. You can prepare it using Adobe Acrobat to fill out the PDF. It's best practice to type it and not handwrite it. The IRS will reject your POA if it is not legible. If you are doing a high volume of 2848s, you may want to consider using software. I personally use Pitbull Tax Software.

If you are interested in purchasing Pitbull Tax Software, you can use my promo code: GGXGXS or this link (https://www.pitbulltax.com/pricing.html?affiliate_id=360) to receive a discount.

***The company does pay me a commission if you use my promo code or link to make a purchase.***

3 - Do a practice 2848 using your information. The best way to learn something is to put it into practice. Where did you get stuck? Let us know in the comments so we can help you get unstuck before you prepare it for your first client.

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Timalyn S. Bowens, EA, is America's Favorite EA and Tax Expert who will work hard to find a customized legal solution for you! As an Enrolled Agent licensed through the Internal Revenue Service, Timalyn can fight the IRS for taxpayers in all 50 states. As the host of Tax Relief with Timalyn Bowens and a YouTube content creator, she empowers taxpayers to make educated decisions about their tax situation.

When you are facing questions regarding your personal or business taxes, working with a professional makes all the difference. At Bowens Tax Solutions, we serve our Louisville-area neighbors by providing the tax services and knowledge needed to succeed. We are here to assist you with your tax issues and preventative care. Visit our website at www.bowenstaxsolutions.com for more information.