IRS sending out late 5500 penalty for plans that have the IDA extension

[Zimkap]

Not sure if others have had the IRS send their clients penalty notices for late filing under the IDA extension but my clients have received them even though their address is in a covered area. 

Of course the letter states to call the IRS but trying to reach them by phone is impossible, has anyone been successful in faxing a response to IRS?

 

[RatherBeGolfing]

15 minutes ago, Michele said:

Not sure if others have had the IRS send their clients penalty notices for late filing under the IDA extension but my clients have received them even though their address is in a covered area. 

Of course the letter states to call the IRS but trying to reach them by phone is impossible, has anyone been successful in faxing a response to IRS?

 

Its not impossible, but its not easy either.  You  just have to hit redial until you get a spot in line.

I've seen this issue a lot the last few years.  If you have a lot of clients getting these notices, ask the IRS if you can send electronic media to cover all them instead of one-by-one.  You would put certain information on a flashdrive and mail it to the IRS.

Protip: An IRS rep told me to attach an "other attachment" stating that you are filing under a disaster extension, preferably with a copy of the applicable extension announcement. Doing so should bring extra attention to the filing and avoid slipping through the cracks like this.

[Zimkap]

I did provide an "other attachment" with every filing, since I was effected as well as my clients. Also had spoken to the IRS when the first extension was granted to confirm that this type of attachment would help.

Will keep trying to call, since sending them a list of the many clients receiving the notice would absolutely be better then individual responses.

Just makes me crazy since this extension was suppose to be helpful to us that were effected and all it has done is add more work.

[thepensionmaven]

Did you check the box "special extension and write (state)-Ida Extension-FEMA-4615-DR"

So far, we have had no problem.