Has anyone tried a "summarized" approach with an explanatory statement? My CPA did this for me last year when I had a similarly complex situation. Instead of reporting 70+ individual lines, we: 1. Reported one summary line for covered securities on 8949 Box A 2. Reported one summary line for non-covered securities on 8949 Box B 3. Attached a detailed statement showing all calculations The key was making sure the totals matched what would have been reported if done line-by-line. The statement included all individual transactions and wash sale calculations. My CPA said this is an acceptable approach as long as the detailed backup is included.

I dealt with a very similar RSU/ESPP wash sale situation two years ago and ended up going the summary route after consulting with a tax attorney. Here's what I learned from that experience: The IRS actually has guidance in Publication 550 that allows for "adequate identification" of securities transactions, which can include summary reporting when individual line reporting becomes impractical. The key requirements are: 1. Total accuracy - your summary must produce identical results to line-by-line reporting 2. Complete documentation - maintain detailed records showing all calculations 3. Clear explanatory statement attached to your return What made my situation work was creating a comprehensive worksheet that tracked every single transaction chronologically, identified all wash sale periods, and showed how losses were disallowed and basis was adjusted through each chain. Then I reported two summary lines (one for covered, one for non-covered) with the final adjusted numbers. The explanatory statement was about 3 pages and included a transaction summary table, wash sale calculation methodology, and the specific rule citations I was following. My tax attorney emphasized that showing your work is more important than the format you use to report it. Been audited once since then (unrelated issue) and the IRS examiner actually complimented the clarity of the wash sale documentation. Sometimes being thorough and organized trumps following the "standard" approach when that approach becomes unmanageable. Just make sure you're confident in your calculations before summarizing - any errors get magnified when you're not reporting line-by-line.

Accountant here. Many employers mess up state withholding after employee relocations. The W2C may take months - I've seen them take until August or September in some cases! If you're getting a refund, file now and amend later. If you'd owe money, definitely file an extension and wait for the W2C. The April deadline is about PAYING not filing - as long as you pay what you owe, the extension to file is automatic and penalty-free.

I'm dealing with almost the exact same situation right now! Moved from Massachusetts to Florida in late 2023, and my employer kept withholding MA state taxes for months after I relocated. The frustrating part is that Massachusetts has a 5% flat rate while Florida has no state income tax, so I've been massively overpaying. Based on what everyone's shared here, I think I'm going to go ahead and file my return as-is this week. The math works out that I'll get a substantial refund just from the federal side, and then when I finally get my W2C (whenever that happens), the Massachusetts refund will just be a nice bonus later in the year. Has anyone had experience with Massachusetts specifically for this type of amendment? I know some states are more complicated than others when it comes to part-year resident returns and corrected withholding.

I can really relate to your situation! I was in almost the exact same boat when I started my tax internship last year - I had basically no practical tax knowledge despite taking accounting classes. Here's what really helped me get through those first few weeks: First, don't underestimate the value of your tutoring and communication experience. Those skills transfer really well to tax prep because you'll be explaining concepts to clients and asking clarifying questions. The ability to break things down simply is huge in this field. For immediate preparation, I'd recommend starting with the IRS's basic taxpayer education materials rather than jumping into complex professional resources. The "Understanding Taxes" section on irs.gov has interactive lessons that explain concepts without being overwhelming. Also, YouTube channels like "Professor Farhat Accounting Lectures" have great beginner-friendly tax videos. Here's something nobody told me: bring a small notepad and pen everywhere during your first week. Write down every acronym, form number, or process someone mentions. Tax work has SO much jargon, and having your own reference will help you follow conversations better. Most importantly, remember that your firm chose you for a reason, even if your transcript wasn't perfect. They saw potential in you. Focus on being reliable, asking thoughtful questions, and showing genuine interest in learning. Those qualities matter way more than coming in with existing knowledge. You're going to do better than you think - the fact that you're already seeking advice shows you have the right mindset for success!

Hey Dylan! I totally get the panic you're feeling - I was literally in your exact shoes two years ago. Zero practical tax knowledge, accounting classes I barely remembered, and somehow landed an internship I felt completely unqualified for. Here's the truth: you're going to be fine. Tax firms hire interns precisely because they expect to train you from scratch. They want teachability over existing knowledge every single time. My crash course strategy was simple: I spent one weekend learning Form 1040 line by line (just understanding what goes where, not memorizing), then focused on the most common supporting documents - W-2, 1099-NEC, 1099-INT, Schedule A basics. The IRS website has great plain-English explanations for all of these. But honestly? Your tutoring background is going to be your secret weapon. Tax prep is mostly about asking the right questions, listening carefully, and explaining things clearly - skills you already have. When a client hands you a stack of documents, you'll know how to organize information and ask clarifying questions. Start with IRS Publication 17 (free download) - it explains everything in taxpayer-friendly language rather than technical jargon. Practice filling out a basic 1040 with a W-2 scenario you find online. That's literally 80% of what you'll see as an intern. Most importantly: ask questions constantly, take detailed notes, and never pretend to know something you don't. The supervisors who trained me said the worst interns were the ones who nodded along pretending they understood everything. You've got this! The fact that you're preparing ahead already puts you miles ahead of most interns.

Wait, I'm confused. Can I deduct the registration fees I pay annually on my leased car too? In my state (California), the registration includes a "vehicle license fee" which they say is based on the value of the car, so it's basically a property tax, right?

This is a great question that highlights one of the more confusing aspects of tax law! The key distinction really comes down to legal ownership and payment structure. With your leased vehicle, you're typically considered the "lessee" who has certain ownership-like responsibilities, including being liable for property taxes in many states. The lease agreement usually breaks out these taxes separately, making them directly attributable to you as a deductible expense. With rental property, you're paying for the right to occupy the space, but you have no ownership interest whatsoever. The landlord maintains full ownership and is the one legally responsible for property taxes. Even though those costs are certainly factored into your rent, there's no direct legal connection between your rent payment and the property tax obligation. It's definitely one of those tax code quirks that seems illogical on the surface, but it's based on the underlying legal relationships rather than the economic reality of who's ultimately bearing the cost. The IRS focuses on who has the legal obligation to pay the tax, not who's economically impacted by it.

As someone new to both this community and the IRS review process, I can't express how grateful I am for all the detailed experiences shared here! I just filed on March 12th and received the review notice yesterday with that infamous 60-120 day estimate. Like everyone else, I initially panicked thinking I'd be waiting 4 months for my refund. But reading through all your actual timelines (consistently in the 45-60 day range) has been incredibly reassuring. I'm definitely going to follow the collective wisdom here - setting up transcript monitoring, keeping detailed records of calls and reference numbers, and checking codes weekly rather than obsessively. The consistent pattern across everyone's experiences really suggests that the IRS gives that worst-case 120-day timeline as a legal safeguard, but the reality is much more manageable. It's also encouraging to see how helpful this community is in supporting each other through what can be a really stressful process. Thanks to everyone for sharing such specific details about codes, timelines, and strategies - you've transformed what felt like an overwhelming situation into something I can actually navigate with confidence!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm incredibly relieved to have found this thread! I filed my return on March 11th and just received the review notification today with the standard 60-120 day estimate. Like many others here, my initial reaction was pure panic - the thought of waiting up to 4 months for my refund was overwhelming. But reading through everyone's detailed experiences has completely changed my perspective. The consistency across all these timelines (45-60 days actual vs 120 days estimated) is remarkably reassuring and suggests the IRS really is just giving worst-case scenarios to manage expectations. I'm planning to implement all the strategies shared here - setting up transcript monitoring, tracking codes weekly, keeping detailed records of any calls, and most importantly, not panicking when those initial 570/971 codes appear. It's amazing how this community has transformed what felt like an impossible waiting game into something manageable with clear milestones to watch for. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share such specific details about their experiences - you've quite literally saved my sanity over the next couple months!