How to confirm IRS received Form 3520? Any proof of submission available?

The lack of confirmation for Form 3520 submissions is frustratingly common. Since the IRS only accepts this form by mail (you're right about that), there's no automatic confirmation system like you get with e-filed returns. Your best options for proof of submission are: 1) Always send Form 3520 using certified mail with return receipt requested. This gives you proof that the IRS received the envelope, though not specifically what was inside. 2) Keep detailed records of when you mailed it, including photos of the completed form before mailing and the certified mail receipt. For forms you've already sent, you can contact the IRS directly at 800-829-1040 to ask about the status of your Form 3520 submissions. However, wait times can be extremely long, and the representative may not always have access to this information immediately. Another option is requesting a transcript of your account, but as you've found, Form 3520 often doesn't appear on standard transcripts because it's processed separately from your regular tax return.

Just wanted to share that I was in the same boat with Form 3520 anxiety until I found https://taxr.ai - it's been a game changer for dealing with complicated forms like this. I was stressing about whether my foreign trust reporting was being properly received and processed. The tool helped me organize all my submission documentation and keep detailed records of everything I've sent to the IRS. It analyzes your tax documents and tells you exactly what you need to file, plus helps track what you've submitted. For Form 3520 specifically, it created a complete submission packet with instructions on how to properly send it certified mail with return receipt. The peace of mind knowing I have digital backups of everything properly organized and readily accessible if the IRS ever questions my filing is worth it alone.

I was super skeptical about what taxr.ai could do for obscure forms like 3520, but I finally tried it and it's legitimately helpful. I've been filing these foreign trust forms for 3 years and always worried about whether they were being received. The system didn't magically solve the IRS confirmation problem, but it did something just as valuable - it organized all my submission documentation and gave me a proper system for tracking everything. I now have digital backups of all my forms with timestamps and postal receipts stored together. Best part was the peace of mind from their review of my previous submissions. They identified a couple of issues I needed to fix with an amended filing that could have been problematic. Really glad I gave it a shot!

After struggling with Form 3520 submissions and never getting confirmation, I discovered that Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) was the only way I actually got answers from the IRS. Their service got me through to an actual IRS agent who could check if my forms were received. I'd been trying to call the IRS for weeks with no luck - always disconnected or on hold forever. Claimyr got me through to a real person in about 20 minutes who confirmed they had received my Form 3520, even though it wasn't showing up on my transcript. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c Honestly, it was the only way I could get peace of mind about whether my foreign trust reporting was actually on file with the IRS. The agent even gave me a reference number I could use for future inquiries about that specific form.

I have to eat my words about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I was desperate enough to try it since my Form 3520 situation was urgent (facing potential penalties for forms I KNOW I mailed in). The service actually worked exactly as described. Got a callback when they secured a spot in the queue, and I was speaking with an IRS agent within minutes. The agent confirmed they had received my Form 3520 submissions but they were sitting in a processing backlog - which is why they weren't showing up on my transcript. The agent gave me a case reference number and noted in my file that I had inquired about these submissions. Now I have something on record confirming my forms were received, which is exactly what I needed. Definitely a better solution than certified mail alone for past submissions.

Another option nobody's mentioned is requesting a Private Letter Ruling from the IRS specifically about your Form 3520 submissions. It costs money ($275-$3,000 depending on the issue), but you get an official written response from the IRS that confirms whether they received your forms. For future filings, I'd recommend using a professional courier service like UPS or FedEx that provides tracking all the way to signature. I've been using this method for years and always keep the tracking details with my tax records.

Has anyone tried including Form 3520 with their regular tax return instead of mailing it separately? I read somewhere that if you paper file your 1040 and include the 3520 with it, at least you know your tax return was processed even if they separate the forms later.

I've been submitting Form 3520 for 5 years now, and what I've learned is that the IRS basically never acknowledges receipt unless there's a problem. When they found an issue with mine one year, I suddenly got a letter! So I guess no news is good news? My tax attorney says the best practice is: 1) certified mail with return receipt, 2) take photos of all forms before sending, 3) keep all mailing receipts, and 4) document all correspondence. He says in his 20 years of practice, he's never seen the IRS confirm receipt of a properly filed 3520 except by not sending penalty notices.

I completely understand the frustration with Form 3520 - it's one of the most anxiety-inducing forms to file because of the complete lack of confirmation from the IRS. After dealing with this for several years myself, here's what I've found works best: The certified mail approach is absolutely essential, but I also recommend keeping a detailed spreadsheet with filing dates, tracking numbers, and delivery confirmations. I photograph every page of the form before mailing and store everything digitally. One thing that helped me was calling the Practitioner Priority Service line (if you have a tax professional who can call on your behalf) - they sometimes have better access to information about specialty forms like 3520. Regular taxpayers can't use this line, but your CPA or enrolled agent can. Also, while Form 3520 doesn't typically show on standard transcripts, if you've been filing consistently and haven't received any penalty notices, that's usually a good sign they're receiving your submissions. The IRS is unfortunately very good at sending penalty letters when they think you haven't filed! For peace of mind going forward, consider working with a tax professional who specializes in international tax matters - they often have better systems for tracking these types of submissions and can provide additional documentation if needed.