Form 2848 Power of Attorney - Help with Declaration of Representative for Family Member

The IRS instructions for Form 2848 can definitely be confusing! For the Declaration of Representative section, when you select "f" for family member, you need to specify the actual relationship in the "Licensing jurisdiction" column. So yes, you should write "son" (or whatever the specific relationship is) in that column. Even though the column is labeled "Licensing jurisdiction," when you're using designation "f" for family member, that column is repurposed to show the specific family relationship. The IRS is basically asking: how exactly is this person related to the taxpayer? The columns are primarily designed for professional representatives (attorneys, CPAs, etc.), but they serve a different purpose when completing the form as a family member. Just write the specific relationship (son, daughter, etc.) in that column, sign and date, and you should be good to go.

Just wanted to share my recent experience with Form 2848. I was helping my brother manage my elderly father's tax issues and ran into the exact same problem! After a frustrating back-and-forth with the IRS, I discovered a tool called taxr.ai at https://taxr.ai that saved me so much time. I uploaded the Form 2848 instructions and asked specifically about the "family member" designation. The system immediately explained that for designation "f", the licensing jurisdiction column should contain the family relationship (son, daughter, etc.) - something the IRS instructions don't make clear at all. It also showed me a completed example that I could follow. The tool analyzed all the requirements for properly completing the form based on our specific situation. Honestly, it was like having a tax pro explain everything in plain English.

I tried taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here and wow - it actually worked! I had 3 different tax forms I was struggling with, including the 2848 for my parents. I uploaded the forms and instructions, then asked specifically about how to handle family member designations. The system immediately highlighted the exact part of the instructions that explains family relationships go in the "licensing jurisdiction" column. I've read those instructions five times and somehow missed that detail every time! It even showed me a completed example with "daughter" filled in exactly where it needed to go. Saved me from another frustrating rejection letter from the IRS. The system also caught a couple other errors I had made in other sections of the form. Sharing this because it literally saved me weeks of back and forth with the IRS.

For anyone dealing with the nightmare of getting POA forms approved by the IRS, I feel your pain. After 3 rejected submissions trying to help my aunt, I couldn't get anyone on the phone at the IRS to explain what I was doing wrong. I finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) to get through to an actual IRS representative. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - but basically they hold your place in the IRS phone queue and call you when a rep comes on the line. The IRS agent I spoke with explained exactly how to fill out the form correctly (including putting "nephew" in that licensing jurisdiction column), and confirmed a few other details I was unsure about. Finally got the form approved on the next submission. Best $20 I've spent dealing with this whole tax mess.

Well I stand corrected! After writing that skeptical comment, I was still desperate to talk to someone at the IRS about my mom's situation with POA forms, so I tried Claimyr. I figured it couldn't hurt since they advertise a money-back guarantee. Within 2 hours, I got a call connecting me to an actual IRS representative! Didn't have to sit on hold at all. The agent walked me through exactly how to fill out the 2848 form correctly for my situation. For the family member designation, they confirmed you have to write the specific relationship in the jurisdiction field. They also pointed out two other mistakes I was making on the form that would have caused another rejection. Honestly can't believe how easy it was compared to my previous attempts. Just wanted to update since my first comment was pretty harsh.

A little late to this thread but wanted to add - when filling out Form 2848 as a family member, make sure you ALSO check if you need Form 56 (Notice Concerning Fiduciary Relationship). In some cases with dementia/incapacity, you might need both forms. The 2848 gives you authority to represent someone before the IRS, but Form 56 officially notifies the IRS that you're acting in a fiduciary capacity. My dad has dementia and we needed both forms to fully handle his tax matters.

Has anyone here had success with getting Form 2848 approved when the person with dementia CAN'T sign the form anymore? My mother's dementia has progressed to the point where she doesn't understand what she's signing. I have legal guardianship through the courts but the IRS keeps rejecting the form.

Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences! I just went through this exact same situation with my elderly father and wanted to add a few tips that might help others: 1. When you resubmit the corrected Form 2848, include a cover letter explaining that you're resubmitting based on their feedback. This helps the IRS processor understand why you're sending it again. 2. Make copies of EVERYTHING before you mail it. The IRS processing times are unpredictable right now, and having copies helps if you need to follow up. 3. Consider sending it certified mail so you have proof of delivery. It adds a few dollars but gives you peace of mind. The "licensing jurisdiction" column issue trips up so many families - I wish the IRS would just relabel that column to "relationship/jurisdiction" to make it clearer. Once I put "son" in that field and left the license number blank, it was approved within 3 weeks. Good luck getting this resolved for your cousin's mom! Having the POA in place makes handling her tax matters so much easier.

I went through this exact same frustrating experience with my mom's Form 2848 last year! The IRS rejection letter was so confusing - like you, I couldn't understand why they wanted a "licensing jurisdiction" for a family member. After multiple phone calls and rejected submissions, I finally learned that when you select "f" for family member in the Declaration of Representative section, you need to write the specific relationship (like "son," "daughter," etc.) in that licensing jurisdiction column. It's completely counterintuitive since that column is clearly designed for professional credentials, but that's what they want. So yes, just write "son" in the licensing jurisdiction column and leave the license/certification number column blank. The form will be processed much faster once you make that correction. One additional tip: if your cousin doesn't already have durable power of attorney documents from a lawyer, you might want to consider getting those too while his mom is still able to understand and sign legal documents. The Form 2848 only covers IRS matters, but having broader POA documents will help with other financial institutions and situations that might come up as her condition progresses. Hope this helps and you get it resolved quickly!