I've dealt with this exact same frustration! PayUSATax and Pay1040 customer service is notoriously difficult to reach. Here are a few strategies that have worked for me and others: For PayUSATax: Try their live chat feature on their website during business hours (usually 8am-5pm EST). It's not always available, but when it is, you can sometimes get connected to a real person faster than phone. For Pay1040: Their Facebook page actually responds to messages - I know it sounds weird, but I got a response within 2 days when I messaged them there with my payment details. However, given your timeline urgency with the $5,300 credit and missing 1040-X, I'd strongly recommend calling the IRS directly at 1-800-829-0922 (this is the dedicated line for payment inquiries). Yes, the wait times are brutal, but they can see ALL payments made to your account regardless of which processor was used. They can also help you understand why payments might have been applied to different accounts. Since your husband originally filed as Single and you're trying to amend to Married Filing Jointly, there's a good chance the IRS systems are having trouble matching payments between your individual accounts. The IRS can actually initiate payment traces on their end without you needing the processor details first. The $5,300 credit is likely payments sitting in a "suspense account" waiting to be properly applied once your amended return is processed.

I've been through a similar situation with tracking down payments from multiple processors! Here's what worked for me: For PayUSATax, try calling early morning (around 7:30-8:00 AM EST) - I found their phone system is less congested then and you're more likely to get through to a person. Also, if you have a business account with them, there's sometimes a separate business support line that's faster. For Pay1040, beyond the Facebook messaging that others mentioned, try their LinkedIn company page - they actually respond to professional inquiries there pretty quickly since fewer people think to use it. But honestly, given your timeline and the complexity with the missing 1040-X and mysterious $5,300 credit, I'd skip the payment processors entirely and go straight to the IRS. The key is calling the right number at the right time. Try 1-800-829-1040 (the main line) at exactly 7:00 AM when they open - you'll get through much faster than calling during peak hours. When you do reach the IRS, ask them to do a "payment history inquiry" for both your SSN and your husband's SSN for tax year 2022. They can see everything in real-time, including payments that might be sitting in processing limbo. This will be way more comprehensive than anything the payment processors can tell you. The $5,300 credit is almost certainly related to your missing amended return - payments probably got applied but the IRS doesn't know how to reconcile them without the corrected filing status.

Don't forget about the $10,000 SALT cap! If you already pay more than $10k in state income tax, then bunching property tax payments won't help since you're already at the limit. I learned this the hard way after prepaying a bunch of property taxes in December thinking I'd get a huge deduction, only to hit the SALT cap and get zero benefit for the extra payments. Now I just pay them when due.

This is exactly the kind of strategic tax planning that can make a real difference! You're absolutely right that property taxes are deductible when paid, not when assessed. One thing to consider beyond the SALT cap that others mentioned - make sure you're factoring in ALL your potential itemized deductions when deciding whether to bunch payments. Property taxes + mortgage interest + charitable donations + state income taxes (up to the $10k total SALT limit) might push you over the standard deduction threshold even if property taxes alone wouldn't. Also, regarding the delinquency strategy - while the math might work in theory, I'd be really careful about that approach. Late payments can affect your credit score, and some counties add additional fees beyond just the percentage penalty. Plus, if property values are rising in your area, you might want to maintain a good payment history in case you need to appeal your assessment in the future. Have you calculated what your total itemized deductions would be in both scenarios (bunching vs. regular payments)? That might help you decide if the strategy is worth the extra complexity.

Has anyone used a private loan structure instead of a gift? My parents "sold" me their house but provided private financing at the minimum IRS-allowed interest rate (AFR rate). I make small payments that satisfy the IRS requirements, and they gift me back most of the payment each year using the annual gift exclusion.

This is exactly the kind of complex family transfer situation where getting professional guidance upfront can save you thousands later. A few additional considerations beyond what others have mentioned: 1. **Timing matters**: Since you're closing next week, make sure your parents understand they'll need to file Form 709 by April 15, 2026 if this exceeds the annual exclusion amounts. Don't wait until tax season to figure this out. 2. **Documentation is critical**: Even if this is structured as a gift, document everything clearly. Write a gift letter stating the parents' intent, keep records of the wire transfer, and make sure the deed transfer language is unambiguous about it being a gift. 3. **Consider your state's laws**: Some states have additional gift taxes or different property transfer rules that could affect your situation. 4. **Future planning**: This large gift will use up a significant portion of your parents' lifetime exemption. If they have substantial estates, this could affect future inheritance planning. Since you're so close to closing, I'd strongly recommend getting a quick consultation with a tax attorney or CPA who specializes in family transfers before finalizing the structure. The cost of an hour consultation is minimal compared to potential tax complications down the road.

Hey, one thing nobody mentioned - the type of entity matters a lot here. Is this an LLC taxed as a partnership, an S-Corp, or something else? The K-1 looks different depending on the entity type and the tax treatment varies.

As someone who went through this exact situation last year, I can tell you that understanding the difference between distributions and taxable income is crucial. You mentioned receiving both cash and a K-1 - this is totally normal for partnership equity holders. One thing I wish I'd known earlier: keep detailed records of ALL your distributions and the corresponding K-1s each year. The IRS expects you to track your basis over time, and if you ever sell your equity or the amounts get more complex, you'll need this history. Also, don't panic about "phantom income" (where you owe taxes on income you didn't receive in cash). It's frustrating but normal in partnerships. The good news is that if the company is profitable enough to make distributions, they're usually distributing enough to at least cover most of the tax burden from the K-1 income. One last tip - if your distribution amount is significantly different from your share of Box 1 income, ask your former company's accounting team for clarification. Sometimes there are timing differences or special allocations that can affect these numbers.

I'm in a similar situation - filed my amended return in June and still showing nothing on WMAR. What's really frustrating is that I called the IRS three times and got three different answers about processing times. One agent said 16 weeks, another said 20+ weeks, and the third couldn't even find my return in their system at all. The lack of consistency is almost worse than the wait itself. I've started checking my account transcript weekly like others suggested, but even that feels like reading hieroglyphics half the time. Has anyone had luck with the taxpayer advocate service for amended returns, or is that just another dead end? At this point I'm wondering if I should just assume it'll arrive sometime before next tax season and try to forget about it.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same timeline - filed my amended return in late May and absolutely nothing showing up anywhere. Reading through everyone's experiences here is honestly both reassuring and terrifying at the same time! What's really getting to me is that I can't even confirm they received it. At least with regular returns you get some kind of acknowledgment. With amendments, it's like throwing paperwork into a black hole and hoping for the best. I've been checking WMAR obsessively (probably not healthy) and considering calling, but it sounds like even that might not give me concrete answers. The military transfer situation mentioned in the original post really hits home - sometimes these refunds aren't just "nice to have" money, they're actually needed for real life situations. Has anyone here had success getting expedited processing for legitimate hardship reasons, or is that more myth than reality? Trying to decide if it's worth the hassle of explaining my situation to an IRS agent who might not even be able to help.