WASHINGTON — A Cincinnati IRS employee complained that higher-ups in DC interfered with the probe into conservative groups.

The Ohio worker mistakenly sent an e-mail to fellow IRS workers in DC, giving the central office knowledge of agency efforts that specifically targeted Tea Party groups’ applications to obtain tax-exempt status.

The misfired e-mail indicates the lengthy questioning of conservative groups was going on in 2010, a year earlier than the feds have acknowledged, according to a Reuters report on the transcripts.

Cincinnati IRS official Elizabeth Hofacre was in contact with IRS attorney Carter Hull in DC, according to the transcripts. Hofacre was trying to send a report on her findings in an e-mail to a small group of IRS workers, but accidentally sent her report to the entire office that oversees tax-exempt organizations at DC headquarters.

Her department issued a “be on the lookout” [BOLO] list for groups seeking tax-exempt status with the words “Tea Party” or “Patriot” in their names.

Hofacre also complained of micromanagement from DC — which could put the impetus for the investigations outside the Cincinnati office.

“It was demeaning,” Hofacre said. “One of the criteria is to work independently and do research and make decisions based on your experience and education, whereas on this case, I had no autonomy at all through the process.”

An Inspector General report didn’t find evidence of deliberate targeting of conservatives being directed out of DC, but lawmakers are looking for any links.