Need help proving eligibility for ACTC/EITC during IRS audit - what documents work as proof?

The CP75 audit for EITC/ACTC is pretty common, especially when claiming children where the relationship might not be immediately clear to the IRS. Here's what you can use to prove your eligibility: For your son's residency (living with you for more than 6 months), CashApp statements can work if they show your address and transactions that indicate you were supporting him (purchases for children's items, etc.). Other documentation you could gather: school records listing you as a parent/guardian, medical records showing you taking him to appointments, a letter from his daycare or school confirming your relationship, or even a letter from your child's doctor. Since your utilities are included in rent, ask your fiancée to get a letter from the landlord stating that you and both children live in the apartment. Have your fiancée write a statement confirming you and the children live together. For relationship proof, gather any legal documents showing your steps to establish paternity. Even if you're not on the birth certificate yet, documentation of your efforts to be added counts. For your next steps: Call the IRS again, confirm they have your correct mailing address with apartment number, and ask for another copy of the CP75 to be sent. This will include instructions for submitting your documentation.

After going through a similar nightmare with EITC verification last year, I found an amazing tool called taxr.ai that really helped me organize all my documentation. I was so confused about what would actually work as proof for my nephew I was claiming, and the IRS instructions were super vague. I uploaded all my random documents to https://taxr.ai and their system analyzed everything and told me exactly which ones would work best for my audit. Saved me from sending in a bunch of useless paperwork that would've just dragged things out longer. The tool even helped me understand exactly what the IRS was looking for with each specific document. In your case, I think they could help sort out which of your documents will actually satisfy the residency test since your situation is complicated with the address issues.

Just wanted to update - I decided to try taxr.ai after my initial skepticism. It actually helped me sort through my mess of documentation for my own CP75 audit. I had a bunch of papers that I thought would work, but after scanning them, the tool showed me that my lease agreement was missing a critical element and wouldn't satisfy the residency requirement. I was able to get a better document from my landlord before submitting anything to the IRS. Saved me from having to go through multiple rounds of document submissions, which would have delayed my refund even more. The guidance was surprisingly specific to my EITC situation, not just generic tax advice.

I feel your pain with the EITC audit! I went through this last year and couldn't get anyone at the IRS to help me understand what documents would actually work. Called so many times and kept getting disconnected or waiting forever. I finally used Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and it was a game-changer. They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes when I had been trying for weeks. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent I spoke with explained exactly what documents would work for my situation (which was similar - claiming my sister's kid who lived with me). They accepted school records showing my address and a notarized letter from my sister. Might not have worked out if I hadn't been able to actually talk to someone who knew the rules.

I need to apologize for being so skeptical about Claimyr. After my frustrated comment, I was desperate enough to try it. Honestly, it worked exactly as described. I got a call back with an actual IRS agent on the line within an hour. The agent was able to see my CP75 audit in the system and explained that for kids you're not biologically related to, they actually have specific documentation alternatives. She told me I could use medical records showing I was authorized to get care for the child, along with school records listing me as the guardian. Saved me from sending in a bunch of useless documents. The agent also put notes in my file about my address issues, which should help prevent problems with future notices. Really wish I had done this weeks ago instead of stressing and waiting!

One thing nobody mentioned yet - for your son, you might be able to get a "letter of placement" from your state's child services department if they were involved in placing him with you. I had a similar situation with my nephew and that letter was accepted as proof for both relationship and residency for EITC purposes. Also, check with your son's school - they often have documentation that shows both your address and your relationship status (guardian, parent, etc). Schools usually keep records of who's authorized to pick up children, which can help establish your caretaker role even without the birth certificate.

Don't forget that for EITC/ACTC audits, you can also use affidavits from people who know your living situation - like neighbors, clergy, or childcare providers. The IRS Form 8836 is specifically for this purpose and can be really helpful in cases like yours. Medical bills are also super useful proof, especially if they show you paying for your son's care at your address. Even if the paperwork shows the old street name, as long as it's clearly the same physical location, the IRS should accept it. They understand address formatting issues.