I've been a tax preparer for over 15 years and unfortunately FFFF has become increasingly unreliable. The issue you're describing - getting bounced back to the start page without any error message - is a known problem that affects thousands of users each filing season. Here's what I recommend trying in this order: 1. Use Internet Explorer or Edge in compatibility mode - I know it sounds outdated, but FFFF was built on older web standards and sometimes works better with IE 2. Try accessing the site between 11 PM - 6 AM EST when server load is lowest 3. Make sure you're entering your Social Security Number exactly as it appears on your Social Security card (no dashes, spaces, or extra characters) 4. If your uncle filed last year, try using his prior year AGI from his 2023 return - sometimes the system requires this for verification even during account creation If none of these work, honestly consider switching to one of the IRS Free File partner programs. They're much more stable and still completely free if you qualify. TaxSlayer and FreeTaxUSA are particularly reliable options. The sad reality is that FFFF gets minimal funding and technical support from the IRS, so these kinds of issues persist year after year. Don't waste too much more time fighting with it when there are better free alternatives available.

I've been experiencing the exact same frustrating issue with Free File Fillable Forms! After reading through all these suggestions, I wanted to share what finally worked for me after days of getting bounced back to the start page. The combination that did it: Using Firefox in private/incognito mode during off-peak hours (around 7 AM), manually typing everything without any password manager, and most importantly - making sure I had my 2023 AGI handy for verification. Turns out the system was silently failing because I didn't have last year's return information readily available. I also discovered that if you have ANY popup blockers or privacy extensions running, FFFF will fail without telling you. I had to disable uBlock Origin and Privacy Badger completely, not just pause them. It's absolutely ridiculous that a government service requires this much troubleshooting, but I hope this helps others avoid the same headache. The filing deadline stress is real when you're handling multiple family returns!

Just got my CP0053 notice in the mail this afternoon and immediately started panicking! Thank goodness I found this thread - reading everyone's experiences has been such a huge relief. I was convinced I'd somehow screwed up my return and was about to be audited or something. It's crazy how the IRS can send such an official-looking notice without any real explanation of what it means or that it's totally normal! Really appreciate everyone taking the time to share their stories and timelines. Makes me feel so much less alone in this whole waiting process. Going to try to stick to weekly transcript checks (famous last words, right? 😂) and just be patient. Thanks for creating such a supportive community here - you've all saved me from a complete meltdown today! 🙏

Just received my CP0053 notice yesterday and honestly felt my heart drop when I saw that official IRS envelope! Like so many others here, I immediately thought I'd made some huge mistake on my return. After reading through all these experiences though, I feel so much better knowing this is just a standard processing delay. It's really frustrating how the IRS makes something so routine sound so ominous - would it kill them to include a simple explanation that this is normal? Anyway, really grateful I found this supportive community! Already planning to become one of those obsessive transcript checkers but going to try the weekly approach everyone recommends. Thanks for all the reassurance and for sharing your stories - makes such a difference knowing we're all in this waiting game together! 🤗

Just a heads up - last year Robinhood had a lot of issues with their tax documents. I'd recommend checking your spam folder and also logging into the actual website (not just the app). Sometimes the documents appear in different places. If nothing else works and you're approaching the filing deadline, consider filing for an extension using Form 4868. This gives you until October to file, though you still need to pay any estimated taxes by the regular April deadline.

I had this exact same issue with Robinhood last year! What ended up happening was that my stock 1099-B was delayed because one of my holdings had a stock split that occurred late in December, and they needed extra time to process the adjusted cost basis for all related transactions. Here's what I learned from dealing with this: 1. Robinhood is legally required to provide 1099-B forms for ALL stock sales, regardless of amount, by February 15th (or January 31st if no cost basis reporting is required). 2. Your dividends over $10 should appear on a separate 1099-DIV form, not necessarily combined with your trading activity. 3. Corporate actions like splits, mergers, or spin-offs can significantly delay your forms while they recalculate cost basis. My advice: Log into the desktop version of Robinhood (not just the app) and check the Tax Center section daily. The forms sometimes appear there without email notifications. Also, download your "Tax Documents Summary" PDF if available - it might have preliminary information you can use. If you absolutely need to file before getting the official forms, you can use your detailed transaction history from the app, but make sure to amend your return once you receive the official 1099 if there are any discrepancies. Don't panic about the deadline - this is more common than you'd think with Robinhood!

Has anyone considered the alternative minimum tax (AMT) implications when selling RSUs? I got absolutely destroyed last year because I didn't factor this in when executing my strategy.

One thing I learned the hard way is to also consider your overall income timing when deciding which RSU lots to sell. If you're expecting a bonus or other large income event later this year, it might make sense to realize those capital losses now to offset the higher tax bracket you'll be in. Conversely, if you're between jobs or expecting lower income next year, you might want to hold off on selling the loss lots until you're in a lower bracket where the deduction is more valuable. The $3,000 annual limit on deducting capital losses against ordinary income means timing can really matter for maximizing the tax benefit.

I went through this exact situation last year and learned a few hard lessons that might help you avoid my mistakes. First, when you amend your return, make sure you also calculate and pay any penalties for late payment since the IRS considers fellowship income as earned throughout the year, not just when you file. For entering it in TurboTax, go to Federal > Income & Expenses > Less Common Income > Other Reportable Income. Look for "Other Income Types" and select "Other Income Not Already Reported." Enter your fellowship stipend amount and put "Fellowship" in the description field. One thing nobody mentioned yet - if your fellowship is over $600 and you didn't receive a 1099, you technically should file Form 1099-MISC for yourself (weird, I know). Not everyone does this, but it's technically required. Also, don't forget that you'll owe self-employment tax on the fellowship income since it's not subject to payroll taxes. The quarterly estimated payments you're planning are smart, but calculate them based on your total expected tax liability, not just the fellowship portion. Use Form 1040-ES and remember the safe harbor rule - if you pay 100% of last year's tax liability through quarterlies, you won't owe penalties even if you end up owing more.

I went through this exact same situation during my first year of grad school! You're definitely not alone in being confused - fellowship income is one of those weird tax situations that most software and support staff don't handle well. For TurboTax specifically, here's what worked for me: Go to Federal > Income & Expenses > Less Common Income, then look for "Other Income" or "Miscellaneous Income." There should be an option for scholarship/fellowship income that wasn't reported on a tax form. Enter just the stipend portion (living expenses) as taxable income - not the tuition or fees that went directly to the school. One tip that saved me a lot of headache: contact your graduate school's financial aid office and ask for a "fellowship tax allocation letter." They can break down exactly what portion went to qualified education expenses (tuition, fees, required books) versus your taxable stipend. Most schools can provide this even if they don't automatically issue tax forms. Also, you're absolutely right to plan quarterly payments for 2024! Fellowship recipients are technically considered self-employed for estimated tax purposes, so you'll want to use Form 1040-ES to calculate those payments. It's much easier than dealing with amendments later. The good news is that fellowship stipends are only subject to regular income tax, not self-employment tax, so at least you don't have to worry about that additional 15.3%!