I'm currently going through something similar with a different type of notice, and what I've learned is that the IRS systems are frustratingly inconsistent. From my experience, CP2000 notices specifically seem to have the longest delay before appearing online - sometimes they never show up at all in your online account. The transcript method that Rita mentioned is definitely your best bet for getting ahead of this. I'd also recommend calling your local post office to confirm your address is correct in their system, since address mix-ups seem to be more common than we'd expect. Don't rely solely on the online account for something this important - the physical mail is still their primary method for these types of notices.

Based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like the IRS mail/online integration is unfortunately hit-or-miss. For CP2000 notices specifically, I'd recommend a multi-pronged approach: 1) Check your transcript weekly using Rita's method to watch for transaction codes, 2) Verify your address is current with both the IRS and USPS, and 3) Don't panic if it takes longer than the 10 days they quoted - mail delivery times have been inconsistent lately. The transcript will likely show activity before you receive the physical notice, which should give you a heads up to prepare your medical expense documentation. Keep checking both systems, but definitely don't rely solely on the online account for something this important.

Has anyone actually made money on these oil investments BEYOND just the tax benefits? My CPA says most of these deals are sold primarily for the tax advantages but the actual investment returns are usually terrible.

I've been researching oil & gas investments for months after getting similar cold calls. The tax benefits are real but extremely complex and situation-dependent. Here's what I learned: The IDC and TDC deductions exist, but they're subject to several limitations most salespeople don't mention: - Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) can reduce or eliminate the benefits - Passive Activity Loss rules may prevent you from using deductions against regular income - At-risk rules limit deductions to amounts you're actually at risk of losing The "working interest" structure they use to get around passive activity rules comes with unlimited liability - meaning you could owe MORE than your initial investment if there are environmental issues or cost overruns. Also, be very careful about the production estimates. I've seen projections that assume oil stays at $80+ per barrel for decades, which is unrealistic given price volatility. My advice: Don't let them pressure you with "spots filling up" tactics. Any legitimate investment opportunity will give you adequate time for due diligence. Get an independent analysis from a tax professional who specializes in energy investments, not just a general CPA. The tax code allows these deductions, but that doesn't make every investment using them a good deal.

Does anyone know if using TurboTax or H&R Block can handle this kind of situation properly? I'm in a similar boat with Illinois and Wisconsin withholding.

I went through almost the exact same situation when I moved from California to Texas a couple years ago! The good news is you're definitely going to get that money back - it's just a matter of filing correctly. Since you mentioned you moved in April, you'll need to file as a part-year resident for both states. For Pennsylvania, you'll only report income earned from January through March (or whenever exactly you moved). For Ohio, you'll report income from your move date through December 31st. One thing that really helped me was keeping a detailed record of my exact move date with supporting documentation like utility connection dates, lease agreements, and even receipts from the moving company. Both states may ask for proof of when you established residency. Also, don't stress too much about the HR mistake - this happens more often than you'd think, especially with larger companies that have employees across multiple states. The important thing is getting it fixed going forward and filing your returns correctly to get that overpayment back. You should definitely get a nice refund from Pennsylvania since you weren't actually liable for those taxes after moving!

Something no one's mentioned yet - make sure you're taking advantage of all your photography business deductions to lower your taxable income in the first place! Equipment, studio space (even home office), software subscriptions, website costs, travel to shoots, professional development courses, etc. The less profit you show, the less you'll owe in quarterly payments.

One thing that helped me when I was starting out - consider making your quarterly payments slightly higher than the minimum required if your cash flow allows it. I know it sounds counterintuitive when money is tight, but hear me out. If your business grows throughout the year (which hopefully it will!), you'll avoid underpayment penalties and won't get hit with a massive tax bill in April. Plus, any overpayment gets refunded or can be applied to next year's taxes. I learned this the hard way when my freelance income doubled mid-year and I suddenly owed way more than expected. The safe harbor rule (paying 100% of last year's tax or 110% if your AGI was over $150k) can be a lifesaver for new businesses with unpredictable income.

Does anyone know if we have to file Form 8843 electronically or if it has to be mailed in? I've been using TurboTax for my regular returns but I'm not sure if they support attachments for the statement required for line 12.

I just went through this process myself as a 6th year F-1 student. After reading all the helpful advice here, I wanted to add that when drafting your statement, it's important to be very specific about your ties to your home country rather than just making general statements. For example, instead of just saying "I have family back home," I wrote something like "My parents and two siblings reside in [home country], where I maintain close relationships and visit annually during academic breaks." I also mentioned specific details like maintaining a bank account there, owning property jointly with family members, and having professional licensing that's only valid in my home country. The key is demonstrating that your life is genuinely centered in your home country despite your temporary presence in the US for education. I also made sure to mention my specific graduation timeline and concrete post-graduation plans (job offer, research position, etc.) to show that my stay in the US has a definite end date. My return was accepted without issues, so being detailed and specific in the statement definitely seems to work well.