Posts Tagged ‘freedom of information’

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION REQUEST

Monday, November 30th, 2009

So, you would like to access the IRS’ public records. There are procedures that you must follow to gain access through the freedom of information request (please go back to the previous page and read more on the Freedom of Information Action or FIOA)…
Here’s an example of what the IRS wants on a Freedom of Information Act request letter for access to its federal records:
(1) Your name & contact information
(2) Internal Revenue Service
Dear Disclosure Officer:
(3) This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
(4) I request that a copy of the following documents (identify the documents or information as specifically as possible) be provided to me. I do not wish to inspect the documents first.
(5) In order to determine my status for the applicability of fees through the freedom of information request, you should know that I am (insert a suitable description of the requester and the purpose of the request).
(6) As proof of identity I am including a photocopy of my driver’s license, notarized declaration, sworn statement, etc.
(7) I am willing to pay fees for this request up to a maximum of $XX. If you estimate that the fees will exceed this limit, please inform me first.
(8) Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
[your signature]
Do you need immediate access to public records & federal records? CLICK HERE
Here is where to write if you want public records through the freedom of information request on particluar federal tax records:
Internal Revenue Service
Director, Disclosure
Office of Disclosure
1111 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20224
If you are doing a people search for someone in the military, you can use the freedom of information request for military information from the public records, which will have the full name, contact information, rank, duty assignments, decorations and awards, among other personal information. Contact the specific branch of service and department. You might want to give them a call and see what the procedures are and what you can request. Remember, every federal agency is different when it comes to rules and what federal records will be released under the Freedom of Information Act.
Air Force
HAF/IMII (FOIA)
1000 Air Force Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20330-1000
telephone number: (703) 692-9960
fax number: (703) 693-2746
Army
Chief, Freedom of Information Act Office
Attn: AAHS-RDF
7701 Telegraph Road
Alexandria, VA 22315-3905
telephone number: (703) 428-6500
fax number: (703) 428-6522
United States Coast Guard
HQ USCG Commandant, CG-611
Washington, D.C. 20593-0001
telephone number: (202) 475-3519
fax number: (202) 475-3926
Marine Corps
FOIA/PA Coordinator
Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps [CMC (ARSF)]
2 Navy Annex
Washington, D.C. 20380-1775
telephone number: (703) 614-4008/3685
fax number: (703) 614-6287
Navy
Head, DON, Privacy Act/FOIA Policy Branch
CNO (DNS-36)
2000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, D.C. 20350-2000
telephone number: (202) 685-6545
fax number: (202) 685-6580
If the subject of your people search has been in the federal penitentiary system, you should try to contact the Federal Bureau of Prisons to obtain the public records on him or her, through the freedom of information request. You will find that unlike other federal agencies, this agency can be very helpful. When it comes to prisoners, the federal records are almost wide open. Visit their website or give them a call.
Federal Bureau of Prisons
BOP’s FOIA Service Center (FSC)
(202) 616-7750
Additionally, if the subject of your people search has been or is currently involved in the federal courts system, including such things as the federal claims court, federal tax court, and federal criminal court, there will be public records of these documents for you to request under the Freedom of Information Act, through the freedom of information request.
Again, you will have to follow procedures and not everything will be released to you. For example, it would be much easier for you try and obtain federal records on John Doe’s lawsuit against the federal government ten years ago over his loss of federal back pay, then say trying to obtain public records from an ongoing federal investigation about John Doe’s tax evasion problems.
Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency
FOIA Officer
Room 1254
633 Indiana Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20004-2902
telephone number: (202) 220-5355
fax number: (202) 220-5350