Purpose
To inform agencies of the new procedure for processing Internal Revenue Service (IRS) notices 2800C (Lock-in Letter), 2808C (Lock-in Modification Letter) and 2809C (Lock-In Release Letter).
Affected Employees
Employees who are issued an IRS lock-in letter
Effective Date(s)
Immediately
Background
Lock-in letters are issued by the IRS when they determine that an employee is either not entitled to claim exempt status, or is not entitled to claim more than a specified number of withholding allowances.
The lock-in letter informs the employer to limit the employee’s withholding allowances at a specified number before a specified date. Employers failing to honor the IRS lock-in requirement could face penalty and may be liable for any taxes not withheld from the employee.
Previously, OSC received these letters and forwarded them to the appropriate agency for processing in PayServ. Agencies then changed the employee’s withholding allowance as detailed in the lock-in letter.
To streamline this process and ensure compliance, OSC will now process all IRS issued lock-in letters.
OSC Actions
Upon receipt of a Lock-in Letter (2800C), Lock-In Modification Letter (2808C) or Lock-In Release Letter (2809C) OSC will implement the required change in PayServ.
OSC will then:
- Notify the agency Payroll Officer of the change via email from the Tax and Compliance mailbox.
Provide the agency Payroll Officer with two copies copy of the lock-in letter; one to be retained in the employee’s record and the other to be provided to the employee.
Agency Actions
Agencies must no longer make changes to an employee’s tax data record in PayServ in response to a lock-in letter.
Agencies must:
- Inform the employee of the lock-in letter
- Provide the employee with a copy of the lock-in letter.
- Retain a copy of the lock-in letter in the employee’s record.
Questions
Questions regarding this bulletin may be sent to the Tax and Compliance mailbox.