Something similar happened to me - I kept getting a cryptic error about my birthday format even though it was entered correctly. For me, the fix was completely clearing my browser cookies/cache and then using Microsoft Edge instead of Chrome. Sometimes Free Fillable Forms gets "stuck" with bad data in the browser cache. Also make sure you don't have any browser extensions running that might be interfering with the forms. I turned off my password manager and ad blocker while doing my taxes and it seemed to help.

I've been dealing with Free Fillable Forms issues for years as a tax professional, and these XML validation errors are unfortunately very common. The root cause is usually that the system stores your data in multiple hidden fields that don't always sync properly when you make changes. Here's what I recommend trying in order: 1. **Complete browser reset**: Clear ALL browsing data (not just cache), restart your browser, and try a different browser entirely (Edge often works better than Chrome/Firefox for government sites). 2. **Manual entry only**: Don't use copy/paste, autofill, or any browser extensions. Type everything manually, especially numbers and addresses. 3. **Phone number strategy**: Enter your phone number as exactly 10 digits with no spaces, dashes, or parentheses in ALL phone fields at the same time before moving to other sections. 4. **Check hidden characters**: If you copied any information from PDFs or other documents, there might be invisible characters. Retype critical information like SSNs and phone numbers completely from scratch. If none of that works, the issue might be with your prior year AGI verification or another backend validation that's incorrectly flagging as a phone number error. At that point, you'd need to speak with the IRS directly to have them check your account status. The error messages from Free Fillable Forms are notoriously misleading - the actual problem is often completely unrelated to what the error says!

I went through this exact same situation last year and I know how terrifying it is to see your return completely vanish from the system! What you're experiencing is unfortunately totally normal after identity verification - the IRS essentially quarantines your return during the verification process. Here's what helped me get through it: First, stop checking your transcript daily (I know, easier said than done). The constant checking just adds to the anxiety and nothing will change for weeks. Second, make sure you're checking your mail religiously - sometimes they send additional requests that can delay things further if missed. The timeline really is around 8-9 weeks from when you verified, not from when you filed. I verified in late February last year and didn't see any movement until mid-April, then boom - everything updated at once and my refund hit my account within days. The hardest part is the complete lack of communication from the IRS during this process. Your return isn't lost, it's just in a completely separate processing queue that doesn't show up on normal transcripts. Hang in there - you'll get through this!

I'm so sorry you're going through this stress! I went through the exact same thing last year and it's absolutely terrifying when your return just vanishes from the system. The "RETURN NOT PRESENT FOR THIS ACCOUNT" message is like a punch to the gut when you're expecting to see your refund information. What everyone here is telling you is 100% correct - this is unfortunately the "normal" process after identity verification. The IRS completely removes your return from their main system during verification, which is why your transcript looks like you never filed. It's a security measure, but they do a terrible job of explaining this to taxpayers. The 9-week timeline is real, but here's what I learned: it's 9 weeks from when you completed verification, not from when you filed. So if you verified last week, you're looking at potentially early May before you see movement. I know that's not what you want to hear, but at least you can set realistic expectations. One thing that helped me was setting up text alerts for my bank account so I'd know immediately when the refund hit, rather than obsessively checking transcripts. Also, definitely keep an eye on your mail - they sometimes send additional requests that can reset the clock if you miss them. You're not alone in this, and your return isn't lost. It's just in IRS purgatory for a while. Hang in there!

I'm going through the exact same thing right now! SBTPG updated to "funded" around 8am this morning and I've been refreshing my Chase app like it owes me money 😂 From everything I've read here and my own research, the trace number thing is internal - we'll never see it as customers. It's basically just how banks track the transfer on their end. As for timing, it really seems to be a coin flip whether you'll get it today or tomorrow. Chase usually processes ACH transfers pretty quickly, but their same-day cutoff is around 3pm EST. Since it's already past that in most time zones, I'm mentally preparing for tomorrow morning. The waiting game is brutal though, especially when you're relying on gig work income! I've got rent due next week and this refund is literally my lifeline right now. At least knowing that "funded" means the money is actually moving makes me feel a bit better than just staring at "processing" on the IRS site for weeks! Hang in there - based on everyone's experiences here, it sounds like we should definitely see something by tomorrow afternoon at the latest! 🤞

Same exact situation here! SBTPG showed "funded" around 9am this morning and I've been checking my bank account obsessively ever since. 😅 The gig life really makes tax season feel like winning the lottery! From what I've gathered from everyone's experiences, the trace number is definitely just internal banking stuff we can't see. And honestly, it sounds like timing is all over the place - some people get it same day, others wait 24-48 hours after the "funded" status. I'm with Bank of America and their ACH cutoff is usually around 4pm EST, so there's still a slim chance for today, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up. The anxiety of waiting when you're counting on that money for bills and car repairs is no joke! At least knowing that "funded" means the IRS has actually sent the money to SBTPG makes me feel better than just seeing "processing" for weeks. We're in the home stretch now! Based on everyone's timelines here, tomorrow morning seems like the most realistic expectation. Hang in there fellow gig worker - we've made it this far! 🚗💪

To all those having trouble reaching a human at IRS. I just ran across this video that gave me a shortcut to reach a human. Hope it helps! https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c

Hey Troy! I went through something similar last year. The 811 code basically means they're doing an income verification - they're cross-checking what you reported against W-2s, 1099s, and other third-party documents they have on file. The 420 code is the actual examination/audit code. Having both usually means they found some discrepancies during the automated income matching process and now want to do a more thorough review. In my experience, these combo audits typically take 3-6 months depending on how complex your return is. Make sure you have all your income documentation ready - pay stubs, bank statements, receipts for deductions, etc. The good news is most of these resolve without major issues if your paperwork is in order. Hang in there!

I want to add another important consideration that hasn't been mentioned yet - the timing of when you recognize your trading gains and losses for tax purposes. Since you mentioned you've been "tracking everything meticulously," make sure you understand that for tax purposes, you generally recognize gains and losses when you close positions, not when you open them. This is crucial for your quarterly estimated tax planning because if you have large unrealized gains in open positions, you won't owe taxes on those until you actually close them. Conversely, if you have unrealized losses, you can't use them to offset your tax liability until you realize them. Given that you're 8 months into the year with $78K in profits, I'd also suggest setting aside a separate "tax account" going forward - maybe 35-40% of each month's realized profits - so you're not scrambling to find cash for tax payments. Many full-time traders get caught off guard by the cash flow impact of quarterly payments, especially if they've reinvested their profits back into trading. One more tip: keep detailed records of all your trading-related expenses (platform fees, data subscriptions, home office costs, etc.) as these can significantly reduce your taxable income, whether you qualify for trader tax status or not.

Jumping in as someone who went through this exact transition from corporate job to full-time trading last year! A few additional points that might help: 1. **Safe Harbor Rule**: Since you mentioned this is new territory, the "safe harbor" rule is your best friend. If you pay 100% of last year's total tax liability spread across four quarterly payments (110% if your prior year AGI was over $150K), you're protected from underpayment penalties regardless of how much you make this year. This gives you peace of mind while you figure out your trading tax situation. 2. **Self-Employment Tax Nuance**: Be careful about that 14.13% self-employment tax calculation mentioned earlier. If you qualify for trader tax status, your trading profits might NOT be subject to self-employment tax - they'd be treated as capital gains instead. This could save you thousands. But if you're just considered an "investor" (even an active one), then yes, you might owe SE tax. 3. **Quarterly Payment Timing**: Don't stress too much about perfect quarterly amounts. I made uneven payments my first year based on actual performance each quarter, and it worked fine. The key is making sure your total payments for the year meet the safe harbor threshold. Since you're already 8 months in with solid profits, I'd calculate 25% of last year's total tax liability and make that payment for Q3 (September 15), then reassess for Q4 based on how the rest of the year goes. This approach has saved me from both penalties and overpaying. Good luck with the transition - it's definitely manageable once you get the system down!