I'm currently dealing with this exact same situation and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! My $875 refund was sent to an account I closed back in November, and I've been incredibly stressed about it for the past 18 days. After reading all the helpful advice here, I called my old bank this morning and they confirmed they rejected an IRS deposit in my name on April 2nd. Getting that concrete confirmation was such a relief - it's amazing how much better you feel just knowing the process is actually moving forward behind the scenes, especially when the "Where's My Refund" tool is completely unhelpful and still shows "refund sent." I'm heading to file Form 8822 this afternoon to triple-check my address is current with the IRS. Even though I'm pretty sure they have the right information, I don't want to take any chances with a paper check potentially getting lost or delayed. Based on all the timelines everyone has shared here, I'm hoping my check arrives in the next few days to a week. The waiting is definitely the most stressful part when you're counting on that money for rent and bills, but seeing that literally every single person who went through this process eventually got their refund gives me so much hope and confidence. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences, specific timelines, and practical advice. This community support has made such a huge difference in managing the anxiety of this whole situation. I'll definitely update when my check arrives to add another successful data point for anyone else who finds themselves in this same boat!

I'm going through this exact situation right now too! My $1,450 refund was sent to an account I closed in December and I've been stressing about it for almost 3 weeks. This entire thread has been such a lifesaver - I genuinely thought I might have lost my refund forever until I found all these similar experiences. Following the advice from everyone here, I called my old bank yesterday and they confirmed they rejected an IRS deposit in my name on March 30th. Having that concrete date was incredibly reassuring - at least I know the paper check process started weeks ago even though the "Where's My Refund" tool is still stuck showing "refund sent." I also submitted Form 8822 last week to double-check my address with the IRS after seeing how many people recommended it. Even though I haven't moved, I wanted to eliminate any possibility of the check going to the wrong place. Based on everyone's shared timelines here, I'm really hoping my check shows up any day now. The waiting has been brutal when you're counting on that money for important expenses, but seeing that literally every person in this thread eventually got their refund gives me so much hope. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and practical tips - this community support has made all the difference in managing the anxiety of this situation. I'll definitely post an update when my check finally arrives to help anyone else dealing with this same nightmare!

This has been such an informative discussion! I just received my 2024 W2 today and was initially concerned when I saw XXX-XX-3492 instead of my full SSN. After reading through all these experiences, I'm now completely at ease about filing with this format. What really stands out to me is how this change represents a positive shift toward better privacy protection. It makes perfect sense that employers would want to mask sensitive information on documents that get mailed out or could potentially be misplaced. The fact that the IRS actively encourages this practice really reinforces that it's not just acceptable but actually recommended. I work for a mid-size company that uses BambooHR for payroll, and this is the first year they've implemented the masking. Based on what everyone has shared here, it sounds like we'll probably see this become universal across all payroll systems in the coming years. Thanks to everyone for sharing your knowledge and experiences - this thread should definitely be a reference for anyone encountering this change for the first time!

As someone who just joined this community and received my 2024 W2 with XXX-XX-6183 format, I can't express how relieved I am to have found this discussion! I was genuinely worried that there was an error with my W2 and was planning to contact my employer first thing Monday morning. Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly reassuring. It's clear that this masked SSN format is not only legitimate but actually represents a proactive security measure that the IRS encourages. My company uses ADP (same as the original poster), and it sounds like they're just following best practices for protecting employee information. What I find most valuable about this thread is the combination of personal experiences and professional insight. Having a tax preparer confirm that this change doesn't affect filing in any way really puts my mind at ease. It's also helpful to see that this is happening across different payroll systems - ADP, Paychex, QuickBooks, BambooHR - which confirms this is an industry-wide shift toward better data protection. Thanks to everyone who took the time to share their knowledge and experiences. This community is an amazing resource for navigating these kinds of tax questions, especially for those of us encountering these changes for the first time!

I'm dealing with a very similar situation right now. My verification was completed on 2/20 and I'm still seeing the 810 freeze code on my transcript as of this morning. What's particularly frustrating is that when I call the general IRS line, they just tell me to "wait for the system to update" without giving any specific timeframe. Based on what others have shared here, it sounds like there might be additional steps happening behind the scenes that we're not aware of. I'm going to try calling that dedicated refund hold number that Fatima mentioned (800-829-0582 ext 633) tomorrow morning. Has anyone else had success with that specific line? I'm also wondering if the verification confirmation email or reference number we received actually contains any information that could help speed up the process when speaking with representatives.

The 21-day timeframe in Publication 5344 is a general guideline, but in practice, the 810 freeze code often requires manual intervention even after verification is complete. I've seen cases where the verification department and the refund release department operate on different timelines. Given your divorce settlement deadline, I'd recommend taking these steps immediately: 1) Call 877-777-4778 early morning (7 AM local time) to reach the Identity Protection Specialized Unit directly - they handle 810 cases specifically. 2) Have your verification confirmation details ready, including the exact date and method of completion. 3) Explicitly mention the financial hardship due to your divorce proceedings - this can qualify you for expedited processing. 4) If the first representative can't help, ask to speak with a manager who has authority to manually release freeze codes. The key is being persistent and specific about your situation. Don't accept "wait for the system to update" as an answer when you have documented completion of verification over two weeks ago.

I just want to point out that whichever method you use, keep INSANELY detailed records!! I got audited last year specifically on vehicle expenses because I was using both methods (actual for my work truck, mileage for my car). The IRS agent wanted to see EVERYTHING - mileage logs with odometer readings, all receipts, proof of business use percentage, etc. They were particularly interested in making sure I wasn't double-dipping on any expenses. Ended up being fine because I had good records, but it was stressful. Just a heads up!

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation with my freelance graphic design business - using my sedan for client meetings and my van for equipment transport to larger events. One thing I learned the hard way is that you need to be consistent year over year with whichever method you choose for each vehicle. I made the mistake of switching methods for my van in year two without realizing there were depreciation recapture implications when you switch FROM actual expenses TO standard mileage. Also, for anyone considering the actual expense method - don't forget about depreciation! It's often the biggest deduction component but easy to overlook. You can use either straight-line depreciation or Section 179 expensing depending on your situation. I use TaxAct's depreciation worksheet which walks you through it step by step. The key is really keeping separate, detailed records for each vehicle from day one. I use a simple spreadsheet with tabs for each vehicle and method, and it's saved me so much headache come tax time.

This has been such a helpful discussion! I'm dealing with a similar situation for our partnership's Form 4562, and after reading through all these responses, it sounds like Section 167 is the most appropriate code section for loan refinancing costs. What I'm still unclear on is the distinction between costs that should be amortized versus those that might be currently deductible. Mateo mentioned that some costs might qualify as currently deductible under Rev. Proc. 2020-50 - can anyone elaborate on what types of financing costs would fall under that category? Also, for those who have been through audits on this issue, did the IRS require any specific language or justification in your records beyond just using the correct code section? I want to make sure we're properly documenting our position in case we get selected for examination. Thanks to everyone who has shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that's so hard to find elsewhere!

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone who's been wrestling with the same Form 4562 amortization issues, I want to emphasize something that several people touched on but might get lost in all the code section discussion. The most important thing I've learned from my CPA is that consistency matters more than perfection when it comes to these amortization elections. Once you choose your method and code section (whether it's Section 167, Section 163, or the OID rules under 1.446-5), you need to stick with it for the entire amortization period. You can't just switch approaches mid-stream if you find a "better" interpretation later. For partnerships specifically, I'd also add that you want to make sure your amortization approach aligns with how you're treating the costs on your books for financial reporting purposes. While book-tax differences are common, having wildly different treatments can raise red flags during an audit. One last tip: if you're still unsure after all this great advice, consider making a protective election in your tax return filing. You can note in your records that you're using Section 167 but would alternatively rely on Section 163 or the OID rules if the IRS disagrees with your primary position. This can help avoid penalties if there's a dispute about the proper treatment later on.