On Sept. 30, the IRS’s Independent Office of Appeals announced a pilot program called “Corporate Group Mailboxes” to upgrade secure messaging for large business taxpayers with many representatives.
The new pilot program, run by the Office of Appeals' Secure Messaging Program Office, is part of the agency’s continuing transformation initiatives “to expand online tools and improve user experiences,” according to the IRS. It began on Sept. 30 and will end on March 31, 2025.
This new feature enables eligible business taxpayers with a team of representatives to ask for a Group Mailbox to communicate with an Office of Appeals employee assigned to their case.
According to the IRS, the "Corporate Group Mailboxes" will assist the Office of Appeals in providing the following:
• Prompt service to taxpayers, offering 24/7 online access to secure digital messages.
• Streamlined communication, giving central access for multiple authorized individuals.
• Secure sharing of records.
• Faster resolution of cases.
The IRS said that "Corporate Group Mailboxes" must be established manually by the Appeals Office. Large business taxpayers represented by many individuals with an open case in the Appeals Office must inquire from their assigned Appeals Office employee if this is available.