IRS claiming they never received my parents' 2020 tax return - what proof do we need?

This happens more often than you'd think! The IRS has been seriously backlogged since the pandemic, and paper returns are particularly vulnerable to getting lost in their system. Here's what you need to do: First, don't panic. Gather all documentation you have that shows the return was prepared and mailed - this includes the TurboTax confirmation, any proof of mailing (certified mail receipt if you have it), and proof that the estimated payment was received (canceled check or bank statement). Call the IRS at their main number and explain the situation. Be prepared to resend a complete copy of the original return with a cover letter explaining that this is a COPY of a previously filed return. Mark "COPY - DO NOT PROCESS" clearly at the top of each page. Include a copy of the notice you received. The fact that they cashed the estimated payment check works in your favor as proof that they had contact with your parents regarding their 2020 taxes.

I went through a similar nightmare last year with the IRS claiming they never got my 2019 return! After weeks of stress and countless calls, I finally discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which literally saved me from this exact situation. Their system analyzed my tax documents, gave me a detailed report showing exactly what I needed to prove my case to the IRS, and even helped with the response letter. I uploaded my TurboTax files and bank statements showing the cashed check, and they organized everything perfectly. The best part was they showed me specific IRS regulations that protected me since they had accepted my payment. Turns out when the IRS cashes your check, it actually creates a presumption that you filed! The IRS representative actually acknowledged this when I mentioned the specific code section.

I was totally skeptical about taxr.ai when I saw it mentioned here, but I was desperate after getting a similar notice about my 2019 return. I decided to give it a try and I'm actually shocked at how well it worked. I uploaded my documentation and they provided a complete analysis showing exactly what to submit to the IRS. They found a specific IRS procedure (something about "presumption of filing" when they've cashed your check) that I used in my response letter. The IRS actually resolved my case within 3 weeks, which I didn't think was even possible given their backlog! The transcript analysis they provided showed exactly where the breakdown occurred in the IRS processing system. If you're dealing with the "we never received your return" issue, I'd definitely recommend checking them out.

Since you mentioned having trouble reaching the IRS by phone, I need to tell you about Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). After getting a similar notice and trying to call the IRS for TWO WEEKS with no success, I was ready to pull my hair out. Someone recommended Claimyr to me - they have this service that gets you through to an actual IRS representative much faster. I was super skeptical but you can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c When I finally got through using their service, I explained my situation to the IRS agent who was able to see that they had indeed received my payment but somehow the return itself got separated in their processing center. They put notes on my account and told me exactly what documentation to send in. Saved me weeks of stressing and calling!

I need to eat my words from my previous comment. After getting another notice from the IRS and spending THREE MORE DAYS trying to reach them myself, I broke down and tried Claimyr. I was connected to an IRS agent within 2 hours of signing up. The agent I spoke with was actually super helpful once I explained my "return not received" situation. She confirmed they had my payment on file but the return was marked as missing. She gave me specific instructions on how to respond to the notice and told me exactly which supporting documents to include. Most importantly, she put detailed notes in my account about our conversation which she said would help when they processed my response. I'm still waiting for final resolution, but just being able to speak with someone who could see my account details and give me clear instructions was worth it. Sorry for being such a skeptic earlier!

I had this exact issue and what worked for me was sending a certified letter with return receipt requested containing: 1. A cover letter explaining the situation and referencing the notice number 2. A copy of the complete tax return clearly marked "COPY - PREVIOUSLY FILED" 3. Bank statements showing the estimated payment was processed 4. A printout of my TurboTax summary showing when the return was prepared 5. IRS Form 8962 (Request for Transcript of Tax Return) to have them search their records again Most importantly, I included IRS Form 911 (Taxpayer Advocate Service Application) which gets your case assigned to an advocate who can help push things through the system. This made a huge difference in getting resolution.

Double check that the notice is actually legitimate! There are a ton of IRS scams going around. What's the notice number at the top right corner? Legitimate IRS notices have specific formats (like CP59 for unfiled returns). Also, real IRS letters won't ask you to call a different number than the main IRS line and won't ask for unusual payment methods.