I've seen this happen with TurboTax plenty of times. The software is just following the tax code, which says you need to pay throughout the year. What most people dont know is that your inheritance itself isnt taxable income! But if you sold investments or property that you inherited, the gains are taxable. And there's something called "step-up in basis" where inherited assets get valued at the date of death, not the original purchase price. So only gains after that point are taxable. Check if maybe you sold some stocks or something after inheriting them? That would explain the capital gains tax. But either way, the penalty is about WHEN you paid, not IF you paid enough total.

Great thread everyone! I'm dealing with a similar situation and this has been super helpful. One thing I want to add is that you can also use Form 2210 to request a waiver of the underpayment penalty if you had reasonable cause - like a sudden change in income, casualty loss, or other circumstances beyond your control. Also, for anyone making estimated payments, remember that the IRS allows you to pay online through EFTPS (Electronic Federal Tax Payment System) or IRS Direct Pay. Just make sure to keep records of when you made each payment since the timing is so important for avoiding penalties. The safe harbor rules mentioned earlier are really key - if your AGI last year was under $150k, you just need to pay 100% of last year's tax liability through withholding and estimated payments to avoid any penalty, regardless of how much you actually owe this year.

I've been dealing with the same identity verification nightmare! After reading through all these suggestions, I'm definitely going to try the 7am calling strategy and the congressional representative route. It's absolutely ridiculous that we have to jump through so many hoops just to get our own money back. Has anyone tried combining multiple approaches? Like calling your representative AND using one of those callback services? I'm wondering if having multiple irons in the fire might speed things up. At this point I'm willing to try anything - I've been waiting on my refund since April and it's now almost August. The IRS system is completely broken and they know it. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and tips. At least we're not suffering alone in this bureaucratic hell!

I went through this exact same nightmare last year and can totally relate to your frustration! The IRS phone system is absolutely broken by design. After weeks of failed attempts, I finally discovered a few tricks that worked: 1. Call exactly at 6:59 AM and press call right at 7:00 AM sharp - set multiple alarms because timing is everything 2. When you hear the automated menu, immediately press 0 three times quickly, then say "agent" clearly 3. If you get disconnected, call back within 30 seconds - sometimes the system will remember your place in queue 4. Try calling on Wednesdays around 11:30 AM - seems to be their least busy time based on my experience The most important thing is persistence. I called 67 times over 8 days (yes, I counted!) before finally getting through. Once I had a human on the line, my identity verification took exactly 12 minutes and my refund was deposited 5 business days later. Don't give up! Your refund is YOUR money and you deserve to get it. The system is designed to make people quit, but if you keep pushing you will eventually break through. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!

Don't forget to save documentation proving they lived with you all year! IRS can ask for: school records showing your address, medical records, statements from neighbors, church records, etc. Start collecting this now in case you're asked later.

Just to add another perspective - I went through a similar situation a few years ago when I was supporting my partner and their child. The key thing that helped me was keeping meticulous records throughout the year, not just at tax time. I created a simple spreadsheet tracking all expenses I paid for them - groceries, utilities, rent, medical bills, clothing, school supplies, etc. I also kept receipts and bank statements showing the payments came from my accounts. When I filed my taxes, I had clear documentation that I provided more than 50% of their support. For the relationship dropdown in H&R Block, I did select "Other" for both my partner and their child, just as others have mentioned. The software walked me through additional questions to confirm they met the qualifying relative tests. One thing I learned is that it's worth double-checking your state tax implications too - some states have different rules for dependents and filing status than federal. But overall, if you truly provided more than half their support and they lived with you all year, you should be able to claim them. Just make sure you have the documentation to back it up!

I've been following this thread because I'm dealing with a similar situation - filed in mid-January with EITC and still waiting after nearly 3 months. The advice here has been incredibly valuable! I wanted to share what worked for me: I checked my transcript after reading the suggestions here and found processing code 570 (additional account action pending) with a freeze date. Turns out the IRS had flagged my return for income verification because I had a significant increase in earnings compared to last year due to a job change. The transcript also showed they had issued a notice (code 971) that I never received - probably got lost in the mail or I mistook it for junk mail. Once I saw this on the transcript, I was able to call the IRS with specific information about my account status, which made the conversation much more productive. For anyone trying to call the IRS, I had success calling at exactly 7 AM EST on a Wednesday. Still took 45 minutes to get through, but much better than the afternoon attempts where I couldn't even get in the queue. Having the transcript codes ready made the conversation quick - the agent was able to complete the verification over the phone and told me to expect my refund within 2-3 weeks. The key insight for me was that the "Where's My Refund" tool is basically useless for complex situations like EITC returns. The transcript shows you exactly what's happening behind the scenes.

I'm in almost the exact same situation and this thread has been incredibly helpful! Filed my return in early February with EITC and it's been stuck on "received" for about 10 weeks now. I was starting to panic thinking I had made some major error. Reading everyone's experiences with EITC delays taking 2-3 months has been such a relief - the IRS website's "21 days" timeline really sets unrealistic expectations for these types of returns. I had no idea that income changes, job switches, or even moving could trigger additional verification requirements. I'm definitely going to check my transcript first thing tomorrow morning. The idea that there could be processing codes and notices that don't show up in the Where's My Refund tool is eye-opening. I've been relying entirely on that tool and getting nowhere. Also going to dig through my mail again more carefully - the comments about verification letters looking like junk mail really hit home. I get so much spam that I probably toss anything that doesn't immediately look important. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences and solutions. It's reassuring to know that long delays don't necessarily mean something went wrong, and that there are actual steps I can take to figure out what's happening with my return!

Just wanted to chime in about the triathlon training aspect since that's important to you. I'm an EA with my own practice and also train for marathons. The key is setting boundaries with clients. I made it clear from the beginning that I don't work weekends (except maybe a few during peak tax season) and I block off specific training times in my calendar that are non-negotiable. You absolutely can maintain athletic pursuits while being an EA - just structure your practice intentionally!

As someone who's been working in tax preparation for about 3 years now, I can definitely echo what others have said about the EA certification being very manageable while maintaining work-life balance. I passed all three parts in about 8 months while working full-time and training for a half-marathon. One thing I'd add is that your background as a financial advisor will actually be really helpful for the EA exam, especially the individual tax section. You already understand investment products, retirement accounts, and capital gains/losses, which gives you a solid foundation. The H&R Block program is a good start, but I'd recommend supplementing with either Gleim or PassKey EA review materials. The exam tests much deeper knowledge than basic tax prep. For the triathlon training aspect - I actually found that having a structured study schedule helped me stay disciplined with both my training and exam prep. I'd study early mornings before training sessions, which kept me focused and efficient with both activities. One practical tip: consider taking the exams in order (Part 1: Individuals, Part 2: Businesses, Part 3: Representation) rather than all at once. This spreads out the study load and lets you apply what you're learning in real client situations if you're already doing some tax work.