2023 taxes showing as delinquent after filing - installment plan issue

This sounds like a classic case of the IRS's left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. Don't panic! This happens more often than you'd think, especially with the backlog they've been dealing with. First, gather all your documentation: a copy of your filed return, proof of any payments made, and especially the confirmation number from when your tax preparer submitted your return. Also find your installment agreement letter that shows the terms you agreed to. Next, call the IRS again, but this time ask to speak with the collections department specifically since they handle installment agreements. The regular customer service reps sometimes don't have full access to see payment plans. Be prepared with your documentation and explain that you've been making regular payments on an established installment plan. If that doesn't work, you might need to visit a local Taxpayer Assistance Center in person. You can schedule an appointment by calling 844-545-5640.

Had a similar nightmare situation last year with my "missing" tax return while the IRS was still taking my installment payments. After weeks of frustration and being on hold for hours, I found this AI tax tool called taxr.ai that saved me so much stress. I uploaded my tax documents and payment records to https://taxr.ai and it analyzed everything and created a detailed report showing exactly what was submitted and when. The system flagged that my tax return was actually processed under a slightly different name variation (middle initial issue) which was why it wasn't showing up correctly in their system. Armed with this report and timeline, I finally got through to someone who could actually help resolve the issue.

I need to eat my words from my skeptical comment earlier. After my own tax nightmare last month (different issue but also "missing" return), I reluctantly tried taxr.ai because nothing else was working. The analysis revealed that my return had actually been flagged for manual review because of a mismatch between reported interest income and what the bank reported. The detailed timeline report showed exactly when my return was received and where it got stuck in processing. I called the IRS with this specific information and finally got someone who could see what happened. Turns out my return wasn't missing at all - it was just in a different processing queue that regular representatives couldn't see. Problem resolved in days instead of the weeks I'd been struggling before. I'm genuinely impressed.

If you've already tried multiple calls to the IRS with no luck, you might want to try Claimyr. I was in a similar situation last year where I couldn't get a straight answer about my supposedly "missing" return despite making payments. What worked for me was using https://claimyr.com to actually get through to a human at the IRS without the ridiculous wait times. They have some kind of system that navigates the phone tree for you and gets you connected with an actual IRS agent. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c I was super skeptical at first, but after being on hold for 3+ hours multiple times with no resolution, I gave it a shot. Got connected to a senior IRS agent who could actually see all parts of my account, including the processing status that the regular agents couldn't access.

I need to follow up on my skeptical comment about Claimyr. I ended up trying it last week after spending literally 4 hours on hold with the IRS only to have the call drop right as someone picked up. It actually works exactly as described. Their system waited on hold for about 2.5 hours, then called my cell when an IRS agent was on the line. The agent I got was actually in the collections department who could see both my return status AND my payment plan (the previous agents I'd talked to could only see one or the other). Turns out my return had been processed but was placed in a different status because of a discrepancy between what I reported and what my employer reported on my W-2. The agent was able to reconcile everything while I was on the phone. Can't believe I wasted so many hours on hold when this option existed.

Have you checked your IRS online account? Go to irs.gov and set up an account if you don't already have one. Sometimes the online system shows more up-to-date information than what phone reps can see. You should be able to see your transcripts there and confirm if your return was processed and what payments have been applied. Also, did you file electronically or by mail? If by mail, there's still a huge backlog and your return might be sitting in a pile somewhere while your payments are being processed separately.

Make sure to check if your preparer actually e-filed your return or just prepared it! I had a similar issue where I THOUGHT my return was filed, but the preparer had only prepared it and given me a copy without actually transmitting it to the IRS. Embarrassing situation but it happens more than you'd think.