Reliable Online Fax Services to Send Tax Documents to the IRS?

Do you know if there's a way to verify that the IRS actually received the fax? I sent something last year and they claimed they never got it, even though I had a confirmation from the fax service.

Unfortunately there's no direct verification system from the IRS when they receive faxes. Your best protection is keeping the confirmation from your fax service that shows the successful transmission - it should include the date, time, recipient fax number, and number of pages sent. If you're really concerned about whether they received it, you can try calling the IRS directly after sending the fax to verify receipt, though wait times are often long.

Does taxr.ai work for all types of tax documents? I need to send some amended returns and I'm not sure if there are specific requirements for those.

I've seen taxr.ai mentioned before but wasn't sure if it was legit. How secure is it for sensitive tax info compared to just using something like eFax?

Their system works with pretty much all tax document types, including amended returns. They actually have a specific workflow for amended returns that makes sure you're sending to the right department. For security, they use bank-level encryption for all documents (256-bit SSL), which is actually better than most regular fax services. Unlike standard email or some basic fax services, they're designed specifically for sensitive tax information, so they take security much more seriously.

Wait, how does this Claimyr thing actually work? Does it just connect you to the normal IRS phone line or what? I've been on hold with the IRS for literally hours before giving up.

This sounds too good to be true. The IRS phone line is notoriously impossible to get through. I've tried calling dozens of times and always get the "due to high call volume" message. Are you sure this service actually works?

It connects you to the same IRS phone lines everyone else uses, but their system basically handles the waiting and automated system navigation for you. They use technology that keeps your place in line and then calls you when they've reached an actual human agent. So instead of you personally waiting on hold for 3+ hours, their system does it for you. I was super skeptical too! I had tried calling the IRS six different times with no luck. But with Claimyr, I got a call back in about 2 hours with an actual IRS agent on the line. It felt like magic after spending weeks trying to get through myself.

Any specific service you recommend that provides this detailed confirmation? And about how much does it typically cost per fax?

I've had the best luck with RingCentral Fax for this specific issue. They provide a complete transmission log that shows every page that went through. Most decent services charge around $5-10 per month for a basic plan with a certain number of pages included (usually 100-300 pages). Single-use services like FaxZero offer some free faxes but have page limitations and put ads on your cover page, which looks unprofessional for IRS documents. For one-time use, you might pay around $3-5 for a small document.

E-file only works for certain types of tax returns and forms. Many other IRS documents still have to be faxed or mailed, especially when you're responding to specific notices, sending amended returns, or submitting additional documentation they've requested. It's kind of ridiculous how behind the times they are on some of this stuff!

This is really helpful advice! I never thought about sending a test fax first - that's brilliant. Quick question though: when you call the IRS to get the correct fax number, how long does it usually take to get through? I've heard horror stories about being on hold for hours. And do they actually respond to those test faxes asking for confirmation, or is it hit or miss?

Great question about the wait times! In my experience, getting through to the IRS by phone can be really unpredictable - sometimes I've gotten through in 20-30 minutes, other times it's taken 2+ hours or I've had to give up entirely. The best times I've found are early morning (right when they open) or mid-week rather than Mondays/Fridays. As for the test fax confirmations - it's definitely hit or miss. I'd say about 60-70% of the time they'll fax back a simple "received" confirmation, but it depends on how busy that particular office is. Even if they don't respond, at least you know your fax service is working and you have the right number. One more tip: if you can't get through by phone to verify the fax number, the IRS website has a pretty comprehensive list of fax numbers by form type and purpose. Just make sure you're looking at the most recent version since they do change occasionally.

This is really solid advice about document orientation and organization! I made a similar mistake once where I sent a multi-page form but forgot to check that all pages were right-side up in the PDF. The IRS sent it back asking for a "readable copy" which cost me precious time during tax season. Your tip about including page numbers and a table of contents is spot on. I'd also add that it's worth numbering your pages like "Page 1 of 8, Page 2 of 8" etc. so they can immediately tell if any pages didn't transmit properly. One question for you - do you know if MetroFax keeps records of your sent faxes for any specific amount of time? I'm always paranoid about needing to prove I sent something months later if there's ever a dispute with the IRS about timing.