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Gee, I wonder when the IRS might impose this upon themselves. The 12th of Never. No kidding, retirement is looking better and better.

This document was referenced on the the Tax Book forum as an excellent resource, published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the U.S. Dept of Commerce and is available at https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.7621r1 as a 54-page pdf with a sample template in the appendix. I usually don't share things from Drake, but this appears in my google search and appears to not be copyrighted. It is a template available to anyone searching the internet, and this link will launch a 20-page pdf directly from Drake's knowledge base: https://kb.drakesoftware.com/Attachment330.aspx . Both of the links above will launch the pdfs directly, but if you are hesitant to click the links but are comfortable enough if I upload the pdfs here I can do that. Please know that I've clicked both links tonight on both my main desktop and my tablet, neither of which set off alarm bells with any of the three AV software products on either device.

I use the form from AICPA slightly modified for my practice as a sole practitioner. I believe it largely mimics the one from IRS in Pub 4557. It's hard as so much really doesn't seem to apply to the likes of me with a home office and no employees. But my IT guy builds my system and internet protection (don't use wifi for the business computer) and works for several other small to medium sized local accounting and tax firms. I also carry the additional network protection insurance through AICPA and have covered all their requirements. Retirement looks better every single year!

I am fully capable of looking up "where to file" on the IRS website. But it is a small inconvenience when there is a tab on Drake which says "Filing Instructions" and the address doesn't exist. This year, I have had to file a few paper returns. But the Drake filing instructions still say "Your return will be e-filed once your signed and dated Form 8879 has been received by this office. Do not mail your return to the IRS." The return I am working on now says "This return must be paper filed". Taxpayer is disabled, has no picture ID, and is a EIP2020 return only.

I liked @Margaret CPA in OH's for the retirement comment, but @Possi made me laugh out loud.

Update: I have been using zoom as a teacher since last spring. I did speak with a zoom rep today and asked about the security or encryption for both video and audio. They stated they are very secure with both items and each it encrypted. My concern was using the screen share and who could hack into it. I have also used Webex. Webex, does have some glitches. When I use Webex on one of my machines which is a Win10 Pro with all of the latest updates, Webex knocks out the audio and all of the audio settings get changed and I have to reset them. So, I'm now thinking that zoom maybe the better way to go. Zoom has a free platform that still has the same encryptions as the paid version. The only difference is number of hosts allowed and meeting length. The free version is 40 minutes and the paid subscription is 24 hours. Hopefully, this will be a good way to meet with clients during this pandemic and very well may entice new business.

Okay, I love the discussion on this. To address what Catherine has said, yes I reviewed the conversions from the IRS with the client via telephone. I offered a brief written summary as JohnH suggested. The client said there was no need. After an hour or so had gone by, the client then asked for not only the summary but wanted me to add to the summary that I ask their tax preparer advised them to ignore communications from the IRS regarding this case. That I never did and only repeated what the IRS agent stated. That is what has raised the suspicion on my part. Also, that gave me the rear tire feeling from the bus. Now, after all of this, I am considering again what JohnH suggested to give the summary without anything that indicates any input from me. Maybe that will satisfy the client.

I'll second that! Meeting all of you (the ones that made it there) at Rita's was great.

Now, I have been assuming that @Terry D actually DID provide that information to the client, at the time of the calls. Perhaps not in that specific detail, or in that detail but by phone instead of email. (I frequently email a client telling them that I spoke with the IRS today, and they said X, and leave off the agent's name and number.) It was the wanting copies of the specific notes to "prove" the contact and the recommendations that set off my warning bells. If someone just needs reassurance, that's one thing. But when they are asking me to "prove to them" that I contacted the IRS that's different. For the first, I'll refer them to the original email, or review my original call with them. I'll reiterate the backlog and maybe even send a link to a press release talking about letters going out in error. But as soon as a client wants me to put in writing something that "proves" I did something for them, my radar goes off like tin foil in a microwave.

After thinking this over some more, I'm beginning to see the light. Yes, Bulldog Tom is recommending the better position on this.

Yes, but you could not efile 2019 amended returns until August. I wish I knew in May they would be getting this efiling available soon. Back in May, paper filing the amended returns was the only way. I think the Covid situation brought this on faster. At least going forward, we'll have efiling for amended returns.

I agree with Bulldog Tom.

I am kinda on the other side of this. If the client wants to know when and who you talked to at the IRS, just tell them. By acting like you have something to hide, you fuel their concerns. I would "dummy down" the notes if they are very detailed. Change to something like "Spoke to Mr. West ID#1000XXXXX on xx/xx/2020 concerning client 1040X. Mr. West confirmed that IRS is still in backlog and that interest and penalties will clear up when 1040X processed". And that is the truth, so why not put it in writing. What is he going to do, sue you? Wait till he sees the backlog at the courts because of Covid. He will get his refund, and the next 3 or 4 refunds, long before he gets a hearing. Sometimes, people just don't trust anybody and they are looking for a reason to be upset, especially now. If you give him the notes, or the summary version of the notes, the problem goes away. My humble opinion. Your practice, your decision on how to proceed. Tom Modesto, CA

We need to get together at Rita's farm (or is it a cemetery?) again. If TN EA Society has a seminar this summer, I can go back again. That was fun meeting you all. Tom Modesto, CA

WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service, state tax agencies and the tax industry today marked the second day of National Tax Security Awareness Week by announcing an improved feature that will be available on all 2021 online tax preparation products. At IRS site....https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-national-tax-security-awareness-week-day-2-2021-online-tax-preparation-products-to-offer-multi-factor-authentication-for-taxpayers-tax-pros