IRS and Tax Filing Issues

Jack Young said:Can I ask you something real quick? Why exactly are you sending the balance sheet and income statement to the FBI?

Because I have to. Deadline is April 30th. Period.

Henry Edwards33 said:My sales tax filing failed today, which reminded me of this trick—and it worked. Thanks 😳
I have no clue why they let them slide through without it before, and honestly, I don't care. As long as the IRS stays off my back, I'm happy. 🤣

man, you really hear some interesting stuff on here sometimes 😁

vividhound60 said:Because I have to. Deadline is April 30th. Period.

Actually, you don't—not if you already filed with the financial index.

The IRS website is down for maintenance today!
I was naive enough to think I could check something real quick, but no luck.
It just says they don't operate on Sundays.

I went through the whole hassle of installing the certificates and managed to log into the IRS portal via my browser, but now I’m staring at a prompt asking for a PIN and I'm completely lost. I received one code in an email, but then there was another one tucked inside the envelope along with the physical security key... which one am I actually supposed to use?

If we’re talking about setting up your PIN for the IRS portal, then on this specific page 1. you have to decrypt the initial PIN. Basically, you receive an encrypted PIN via email for your first login, and here is how you actually handle it: go down to the bottom left and hit the "Tools—Decrypt PIN" button. This will pop open a new window. In the dropdown menu at the top, just select your USB drive—it should show a long string of numbers; honestly, if you only have that one thumb drive plugged in, it makes things much simpler. Once you've selected it, type in that original PIN they sent you in the email, click the "Decrypt PIN" button, and the system will generate a new 6-digit PIN. For heaven's sake, write that number down somewhere safe immediately, because the system is going to demand it every single time you try to log in.

Nicole Lee6 said:If we’re talking about setting up your PIN for the IRS portal, then on this specific page 1. you have to decrypt the initial PIN. Basically, you receive an encrypted PIN via email for your first login, and here is how you actually handle it: go down to the bottom left and hit the "Tools—Decrypt PIN" button. This will pop open a new window. In the dropdown menu at the top, just select your USB drive—it should show a long string of numbers; honestly, if you only have that one thumb drive plugged in, it makes things much simpler. Once you've selected it, type in that original PIN they sent you in the email, click the "Decrypt PIN" button, and the system will generate a new 6-digit PIN. For heaven's sake, write that number down somewhere safe immediately, because the system is going to demand it every single time you try to log in.

Or just set your own custom PIN if you prefer

Are you serious? I don't recall him offering me that option, or maybe I just completely missed it 🤷

Is there any way to change the PIN after the fact?

Nicole Lee6 said:Are you serious? I don't recall him offering me that option, or maybe I just completely missed it 🤷

Is there any way to change the PIN after the fact?

I went through this whole thing back in early 2012, so honestly, my memory of the exact steps is a little fuzzy now.

Jack Young said:I went through this whole thing back in early 2012, so honestly, my memory of the exact steps is a little fuzzy now.

As for my current situation, the system won't let me just make up my own PIN; it automatically assigns one for the IRS e-filing portal. However, when it comes to the PIN for sales tax compliance, I was actually able to choose my own number.🤷

Jack Young said:Or just set your own custom PIN if you prefer

I am, but it keeps telling me I need Java.
I have no idea what’s going wrong here; I already installed Java JRE7,
but it keeps insisting I need a specific version. I've gone through the whole installation process and still nothing.
I can't decrypt the PIN—has anyone else run into this kind of headache???
And once I actually get it decrypted, is that new PIN the same one I'll be using for the IRS website??

jadenomad24 said:I am, but it keeps telling me I need Java.
I have no idea what’s going wrong here; I already installed Java JRE7,
but it keeps insisting I need a specific version. I've gone through the whole installation process and still nothing.
I can't decrypt the PIN—has anyone else run into this kind of headache???
And once I actually get it decrypted, is that new PIN the same one I'll be using for the IRS website??

Yes, that will be the PIN you use for the IRS portal.
Try restarting your computer first.
Do you even have the right drivers installed for your USB reader? Is the hardware actually being recognized? Honestly, this stuff usually runs much smoother if you just use Internet Explorer. Go into Tools > Internet Options > Content tab > Certificates, and check under "Trusted Root Certification Authorities" to see if the RDC is listed. If it isn't there, go ahead and download the verified RDC directly from their official site.

Once you successfully decrypt the PIN, it should show up in that same spot under the "Personal" certificates tab in the settings (you should see two entries listed under your name).

Taylor Campbell4, I assume you went ahead and installed those apps from the links in the email?

If Java starts acting up, try uninstalling every single version you currently have through the Control Panel—it’s possible things have just gotten cluttered over time—and then go ahead and perform a fresh install of the latest version.

Nicole Lee6 said:Yes, that will be the PIN you use for the IRS portal.
Try restarting your computer first.
Do you even have the right drivers installed for your USB reader? Is the hardware actually being recognized? Honestly, this stuff usually runs much smoother if you just use Internet Explorer. Go into Tools > Internet Options > Content tab > Certificates, and check under "Trusted Root Certification Authorities" to see if the RDC is listed. If it isn't there, go ahead and download the verified RDC directly from their official site.

Once you successfully decrypt the PIN, it should show up in that same spot under the "Personal" certificates tab in the settings (you should see two entries listed under your name).

I've checked everything you mentioned, but when I try using Mozilla, it keeps telling me I need to install Java—even though I know for a fact it's already on my machine. And
in Internet Explorer, everything looks exactly like you described; I see both certificates with my name and the date, yet it still won't budge. All I get is:
"Loading application..." followed by absolutely nothing else.🤷

It wasn't working for me in Internet Explorer, but everything seems fine now in Mozilla.
It might be that you have JavaScript enabled in Mozilla—honestly, I can't even remember if I tweaked any specific settings in Mozilla myself.

Also, try disabling the pop-up blocker in Internet Explorer; that might do the trick.

Raymond Martinez10 said:Actually, you don't—not if you already filed with the financial index.

I have to... they're looking for me. Honestly, I'd rather deal with the paperwork than have them show up at my door to audit me. Every single year, there’s some tiny correction needed on my Form 1040, but this year? This year is a nightmare because of a massive sales tax overpayment. They won't even release my tax transcripts until I hand everything over. It’s constant... they go through seven income streams, then 24, 14, and 0 every damn year... just digging through everything...

jadenomad24 said:I mean, where do you even live? Last year, nobody was sending their balance sheets or P&L statements to the local Police Department... they just take them over from the IRS, you hand over the end GFI-POD and that’s it... and if you actually bother to look at the IRS website, it doesn't even ask for it. Why send stuff they aren't asking for? It's no wonder you can't get a hold of anyone when you actually need them, people calling about total nonsense... sorry, I just had to say it, even if the mods come after me

Well, I don't call them... I call my contacts at the Police Department, and I have about two of them. But they don't take anything... honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't even realize they could take it. Besides, I saw in the IRS instructions that the P&L and revenue statements can be sent through the portal... and when I called yesterday, the agent didn't tell me not to send them, and I need them for public bidding. What can I say. At these auctions, they demand the balance sheet and P&L verified by the Police Department, and now you're telling me I don't need to? You're probably right, but if I just submit what the IRS has, they could disqualify me. Is that illegal? Maybe, but I could drag them through a commission hearing and waste three or four months fighting it... and the job is waiting right now.

wiredmarlin41 said:Oh, please—where on earth do you live? Last year, nobody was even sending balance sheets or income statements to the FBI. They just pull that data directly from QuickBooks; once they have the NSA files, they’re set. It’s more than enough. If you actually bother to look at the IRS e-file guidelines, you'll see it isn't even required. Why would anyone waste time sending documents that aren't requested? It’s no wonder you can't get a hold of them when you actually need them, or when people start calling about trivial nonsense... excuse me for saying it, but I had to speak up, even if the moderators decide to reprimand me.

It's obvious you don't live in the same district as the FBI.😁
And frankly, I don't understand why you're constantly acting surprised, because it's common knowledge that certain clerks have their own little personal whims and preferences.
Last year alone, ten different agents asked me for printed balance sheets, P&L statements, and gross totals. Since my mental health is worth way more to me than fighting with bureaucracy, I just hand over whatever they ask for.
I have zero desire to cause myself a headache over a few measly pages of paperwork.

vividhound60 said:Well, I don't call them... I call my contacts at the Police Department, and I have about two of them. But they don't take anything... honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't even realize they could take it. Besides, I saw in the IRS instructions that the P&L and revenue statements can be sent through the portal... and when I called yesterday, the agent didn't tell me not to send them, and I need them for public bidding. What can I say. At these auctions, they demand the balance sheet and P&L verified by the Police Department, and now you're telling me I don't need to? You're probably right, but if I just submit what the IRS has, they could disqualify me. Is that illegal? Maybe, but I could drag them through a commission hearing and waste three or four months fighting it... and the job is waiting right now.

This is slightly off-topic, but if we are talking about bidding under the Zalando regulations, the document a client must request from the FBI is an FBI certificate regarding tax debt status. To prove financial capability (which isn't strictly required by the cited law, though a client can still ask for it), one can provide documents like BON-1 or BON-2—those are the ones issued by a commercial bank or FINRA.
But as Damir points out—and we've reached this conclusion on this forum several times now—a lot depends on the individual agent and the FBI itself.
In the last two years, I haven't submitted a single balance sheet or income statement to the FBI for any of my clients.

jadenomad24 said:I've checked everything you mentioned, but when I try using Mozilla, it keeps telling me I need to install Java—even though I know for a fact it's already on my machine. And
in Internet Explorer, everything looks exactly like you described; I see both certificates with my name and the date, yet it still won't budge. All I get is:
"Loading application..." followed by absolutely nothing else.🤷

Maybe try this too:
Go to Start-Programs-Activ identity-Activ client-User console. Once those certificates with your name pop up, right-click one, then the other, and hit "make available."🤷