How to Verify Tax Work Was Completed

Why verification is difficult

You paid someone to handle your taxes—to file a return, resolve an issue, or work on your account. Time passed. Now you want to know: was the work actually done?

This is harder than it should be. Tax professionals sometimes deliver vague updates: "We're working on it," or "We submitted your request." IRS processing times are long—sometimes 6-12 months from submission to processing. And often, you don't have access to the actual filing confirmation.

Without proper documentation, you're left guessing. Did they actually file? Did the IRS accept it? Is the matter resolved, pending, or abandoned?

Records that show completed work

Some documents look official but prove nothing. Others are definitive proof that work was filed with the IRS. You need to know the difference.

Documents that do NOT prove filing

Invoices and emails — Confirm they charged you, not that they filed anything
PDF copies of returns — Anyone can create a PDF. The IRS has no record unless it was filed
Engagement letters or fee quotes — Agreement to do work, not proof work was done
Internal status notes — Their documentation, not IRS confirmation
Correspondence with you — Doesn't prove IRS filing or processing

Documents that DO prove completed work

IRS filing acceptance notice — Shows exactly when the IRS accepted the filing
IRS transcript showing the return — Official record the return was filed and processed
IRS notice addressed to you — Notice indicates the IRS received something and is processing it
Power of Attorney confirmation from IRS — Written confirmation the IRS received a Form 2848
IRS account transcript showing payment or assessment — Proof of transaction on your account

Account transcripts and filing confirmation

The clearest evidence a return was filed is an IRS account transcript showing the filing. This transcript lists every return the IRS has on record for you, along with filing dates, amounts reported, and processing status.

If you filed a 2023 return and want to verify it was processed, request your 2023 account transcript. If the return appears on the transcript with a filing date, it was filed and received by the IRS. If it doesn't appear, either it wasn't filed or the IRS hasn't processed it yet.

Many tax professionals claim "we filed your return" but provide no transcript. This is a red flag. Any reputable firm can request a transcript within days. If they can't or won't, something is wrong.

Notices and correspondence

IRS notices prove the IRS received something. If you get a notice addressed to you about your account, it means the IRS is processing or has processed a filing or request related to your case.

Common notices include:

CP notice (e.g., CP14, CP15, CP501) — Processing your filing or assessment
Notice of Deficiency — IRS proposed changes to your return
Levy notice — IRS is collecting
Payment confirmation notice — IRS received and applied a payment
Acceptance notice — E-filed return was received and accepted

If your tax pro says "we filed it" but you've received no notices in 12 months, something is off. The IRS typically sends some acknowledgment within 6-8 weeks of filing.

Power of Attorney confirmation

If you authorized a tax professional or firm using Form 2848 (Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative), the IRS sends a confirmation letter once they process it.

This letter is proof that the IRS received the Form 2848 and has on record that this person is authorized to act on your behalf. Without this confirmation, the IRS may not recognize the representative, and any correspondence may go directly to you instead.

Request a copy of the IRS confirmation from your representative. If they claim a POA is active but can't produce the IRS confirmation letter, the IRS may not actually have it on file.

What to request from your tax professional

Before requesting anything from the IRS, ask your tax professional for the following:

IRS filing acceptance notice — If they e-filed, they have this
Return copy filed with IRS — Certified copy showing what was submitted
Any correspondence from IRS — Notices, acknowledgments, or responses
Power of Attorney confirmation from IRS — If a POA was filed
Payment confirmations or receipts — If payments were made on your behalf
Status updates with dates — When work was supposedly completed, filed, or submitted
Documentation of requests sent to IRS — Proof they contacted the IRS (if applicable)

Any firm hesitant to provide this documentation is either disorganized or hiding something. Reputable professionals keep clear records and can produce proof quickly.

What to request from the IRS

Once you've asked your professional and still have questions, request official records from the IRS. You can get these online or by mail.

Account Transcript — Shows all returns, payments, and notices on your account
Tax Return Transcript — Shows the actual return filed with detailed line items
Record of Account — Complete chronological history including filing dates and assessments
IRS Verification of Non-Filing — Confirms no return is on file for a specific year
Power of Attorney status — Confirmation IRS has a valid POA on file
Payment history — All payments the IRS has received and applied to your account

Request transcripts for all relevant years. If a return should be on file but doesn't appear, the filing wasn't completed. If notices appear but no return, something went wrong in the process.

When documentation does not match promises

You now have documents. But they tell a different story than what your tax professional promised.

Common mismatches:

They said "filed" but transcript shows no return — Work was not completed
They claimed "case resolved" but IRS shows collection activity ongoing — Misrepresentation or misunderstanding
They said "POA active" but IRS shows no POA on file — Authorization never made it to IRS
Return appears but with wrong information or incomplete — What was filed differs from what you agreed to
They claim work is done but IRS shows "action required from taxpayer" — Work is incomplete

At this point, you have a clear record of what was promised versus what actually happened. This is documentation you can use to:

Request a refund or credit from the professional
File a complaint with your state's licensing board (if applicable)
Pursue a dispute or chargeback if you used a credit card
Seek recovery through small claims court or arbitration

When independent review makes sense

At this point, you're holding documents from the tax professional and the IRS. They tell conflicting stories. A compliance review provides independent, written documentation of what actually happened on your account—and what didn't.

A review is particularly valuable if:

You're pursuing a refund or dispute with the professional
You need written documentation of what was and wasn't filed
The IRS is still taking action and you need clarity on your status
You're considering legal action and need a clear record
You want independent verification before moving forward

A written compliance review provides third-party documentation that's difficult to dispute. It shows exactly what your IRS account reflects, what work was completed, and what remains required.