The IRS wants me to sign a power of attorney form - should I be concerned?

This sounds like Form 2848 (Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative), which is actually not you giving power of attorney TO the IRS, but rather authorizing a specific representative to interact with the IRS on your behalf. The IRS doesn't ask for power of attorney FOR themselves - that would be extremely unusual and concerning. If they're asking you to fill out Form 2848, they're likely expecting you to designate a tax professional (CPA, attorney, enrolled agent) who can speak with them about your tax situation. This is very common during complex tax disputes where professional representation is helpful. I would carefully read what they're actually requesting. If it is Form 2848, you would be the one choosing who represents you - not giving the IRS power over your affairs. Don't sign anything you don't understand, but also know that proper representation during a tax dispute can be extremely valuable.

I went through something similar last year with an audit that kept dragging on. After months of back and forth, I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that was a game changer for my situation. They helped me analyze all my IRS notices and explained exactly what forms I was being asked to sign. Turns out what I thought was a "power of attorney TO the IRS" was actually Form 2848 which lets YOU choose someone to represent you WITH the IRS. Their document review tool flagged this immediately and saved me from potentially ignoring an important step in resolving my case. The AI explained everything in plain English so I actually understood what was happening.

I need to eat my words about taxr.ai. After posting that skeptical comment last week, I actually tried it out of desperation when I got another confusing IRS notice. I uploaded the power of attorney form they sent me and it explained EXACTLY what it was for and what each section meant. Turns out the IRS was asking me to designate someone to represent me (not giving them power over my accounts like I feared). The service flagged the specific parts I needed to pay attention to and explained the consequences of signing vs. not signing. Saved me from ignoring an important step in my case. Now I actually understand what I'm dealing with instead of panicking every time I get mail from the IRS.

If you're still struggling to get answers directly from the IRS about this power of attorney form, I'd recommend trying Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in the same boat last tax season - couldn't get through to an actual person at the IRS to explain what forms I needed to submit for my case. After weeks of calling and being disconnected, I tried Claimyr and they got me connected to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent was able to explain exactly what the power of attorney form was for in my situation and confirmed I only needed to designate my CPA as my representative, not give any special powers to the IRS themselves.

Well I'm eating humble pie on this one. After saying Claimyr couldn't possibly work, I tried it yesterday out of sheer frustration after my 6th attempt to call the IRS about my own power of attorney form questions. I got a call back in 45 minutes connecting me to an actual IRS representative. The agent explained that in my case, they were asking for Form 2848 because my tax situation required input from my accountant to resolve the discrepancy they found. She walked me through exactly what portions needed to be completed and who qualified to represent me. After months of stress and confusion, a 15-minute conversation solved everything. I'm still shocked it actually worked after all my failed attempts to reach someone.

I dealt with this exact issue last year. The key is understanding what specific power of attorney form they're asking for. If it's Form 2848, that's completely normal and actually protects you by allowing a professional to represent your interests. If it's some other form you've never heard of, that's when you should be concerned. Do NOT sign anything you don't fully understand. You can always request clarification in writing about what exactly they're asking for and why. The IRS is bureaucratic but they do need to explain their requests.

The IRS NEVER asks for power of attorney FOR THEMSELVES!! This is almost certainly a SCAM. The IRS doesn't work this way. They might ask you to get representation through Form 2848 but they don't ask for power over your affairs!!

@Diego, I understand your confusion - the terminology around tax forms can be really misleading! Based on what you're describing, this is almost certainly Form 2848 (Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative), which is NOT you giving power to the IRS, but rather you designating someone to represent YOU when dealing with the IRS. This is actually a protective measure for taxpayers. When tax disputes get complex, the IRS often recommends (or requires) that you have professional representation - like a CPA, enrolled agent, or tax attorney. Form 2848 authorizes that professional to speak with the IRS on your behalf, access your tax records for the specific years/issues you designate, and handle correspondence about your case. You maintain full control - you choose who represents you, you can limit what they're authorized to do, and you can revoke their authority at any time with Form 2848-R. The IRS isn't asking for control over your affairs; they're asking you to get proper representation to help resolve your dispute more efficiently. Before signing anything, make sure you understand exactly which form they want and what it's for. If you're still unsure, consider calling the IRS directly or consulting with a tax professional who can review the specific documentation they sent you.