I completely understand your frustration - this exact situation happened to me last year! That "no record of processed return" letter is actually pretty standard when returns get stuck in processing limbo, so try not to panic too much. Since you're at 7+ weeks now, you're definitely beyond normal processing times and have every right to get answers. Here's what I'd recommend doing in order: 1. Call H&R Block first to verify there wasn't a transmission error on their end. Sometimes returns show "accepted" but don't actually make it through their system properly. 2. If H&R Block confirms everything went through correctly, then it's time to call the IRS. The best time to call is right at 7 AM when they open - you'll have much better odds of getting through. 3. When you do reach an agent, they'll be able to see exactly what's happening with your return. It could be something simple like a W-2 mismatch or your return might have been selected for routine review. The good news is that "accepted" really does mean the IRS has your return - it's just sitting in a queue somewhere waiting to be processed. I know the waiting is awful, but you're not alone in this. The IRS is dealing with massive backlogs this year and processing times are way longer than usual. Hang in there - once you get an agent who can actually look at your account, you should get real answers about what's causing the delay!

I've been following this thread and wanted to share my experience since I just went through something very similar! Filed in early March, got the acceptance confirmation, then radio silence for weeks with that same "no record of processed return" message. What finally worked for me was a combination of the advice I'm seeing here. First, I called my tax preparer (FreeTaxUSA) and they confirmed the transmission was successful on their end. Then I tried calling the IRS for days with no luck getting through. Eventually I broke down and used one of those callback services that several people mentioned - got connected to an actual IRS agent within an hour. Turns out my return was flagged because one of my employers had submitted a corrected W-2 after I filed, creating a mismatch in their system. The agent was able to see this immediately and released my return right there on the call. The whole thing was resolved within a week after that phone call, and I got my refund about 10 days later. The key was actually talking to someone who could look at my specific case rather than just waiting and wondering. @Madison Tipne - since you're already at 7+ weeks, I'd definitely recommend being proactive about calling rather than waiting much longer. That verification letter you got is actually pretty normal when returns are stuck, but you deserve to know exactly what's causing the delay at this point!

Just want to add another perspective here - I went through something very similar when my company got acquired in 2023. The acquisition created a substantial capital gain that pushed my AGI way over $150K, so I needed to hit that 110% safe harbor threshold. What I found helpful was calculating the exact amount early in the year and then spreading the additional withholding across all remaining paychecks rather than trying to cram it all into the last few months. This made the impact on my take-home pay much more manageable. Also worth noting - if your employer's payroll system can't handle the level of additional withholding you need (some have limits), you might need to make at least one estimated payment anyway. I ran into this issue where my HR department said they couldn't withhold more than a certain percentage of my gross pay, so I had to make a Q4 estimated payment to cover the difference. The good news is that as long as your total payments (withholding + estimates) meet the safe harbor amount, you're protected from penalties regardless of how you split it up.

Great question about the safe harbor rules! I went through something similar when my startup got acquired in 2022. A few additional points that might help: 1. **Timing flexibility with safe harbor**: The beauty of the safe harbor rule is that it doesn't matter WHEN during the year you pay the taxes, just that your total payments meet the threshold. So if your acquisition happens in Q3 but you don't increase withholding until Q4, you're still protected as long as you hit that 110% mark by year-end. 2. **Consider state taxes too**: Don't forget that most states also have their own estimated tax requirements. If you're in a state with capital gains taxes, you'll want to factor that into your planning as well. 3. **Document everything**: Keep detailed records of when you increased your withholding and why. If there are ever questions about penalties, having documentation that you were following safe harbor rules will be helpful. 4. **Alternative minimum tax (AMT)**: With a large capital gain, you might want to check if you'll be subject to AMT. This can sometimes affect your safe harbor calculations, especially if your prior year included AMT. The approach you outlined sounds correct - just make sure you're using the right percentage (110% if your 2024 AGI exceeds $150K) and consider whether paying throughout the year vs. one large payment in April 2026 works better for your cash flow situation.

For everyone talking about gross vs net income, remember that AGI (adjusted gross income) is what really matters for most tax calculations. It's basically your gross income minus specific adjustments (like student loan interest, IRA contributions, etc). The way I understand it: 1) Gross income = all your income before ANY deductions 2) AGI = gross income minus certain adjustments 3) Taxable income = AGI minus standard or itemized deductions 4) Net income = what's left after ALL taxes and deductions (not really a tax form concept) U start with gross, get to AGI, then to taxable income, THEN figure out taxes owed vs paid to determine refund.

This is such a helpful thread! I was making the exact same mistake - I kept trying to use my take-home pay as the starting point for tax calculations because that's what I actually "received." But reading through everyone's explanations, it's clear that the IRS works backwards from gross income. What really clicked for me was understanding that my W-2 Box 1 is already a partially processed number - it's my gross income with certain pre-tax deductions already removed. So when I start my tax return with that Box 1 amount, I'm not starting with true gross income, but I'm also not starting with net income. It's this middle ground that represents my taxable wages before standard/itemized deductions. I think the confusion comes from thinking about our paychecks, where we see gross pay, then a bunch of deductions, then net pay. But tax returns don't follow that exact same flow since some of those paycheck deductions are already baked into the W-2 numbers we use.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful advice! I found my Copy B - it was clearly labeled "To Be Filed With Employee's FEDERAL Tax Return" just like Chloe mentioned. I was overthinking it way too much. For anyone else confused like I was, here's what I learned: Look for the specific Copy B section on your W-2 (it's usually perforated so you can tear it off cleanly), attach it to the front of your 1040 with a small paper clip (not staples!), and make sure you're mailing to the right IRS processing center for your state. I'm getting this in the mail tomorrow so I can stop stressing about the deadline. Really appreciate this community helping out a tax newbie!

Great advice from everyone here! As someone who's been filing paper returns for years, I can confirm that Copy B is absolutely required for federal returns. One additional tip - if you have multiple W-2s from different employers, make sure to attach ALL of the Copy B forms. I made that mistake once and had to mail in the missing ones separately, which delayed my processing. Also, double-check that all the information on your W-2 matches what you entered on your 1040. Even small typos in names or amounts can cause issues. The IRS computers are pretty good at catching discrepancies between what you report and what your employer reported. Good luck getting that return in the mail on time!

Day 23 still nothing... IRS playing hide and seek with these letters fr

I'm on week 3 waiting for mine too! Called the 800-830-5084 number yesterday and they said if it's been more than 4 weeks you can request they send another one. The rep also mentioned checking your online IRS account to see if there's an option to verify through ID.me instead of waiting for the letter. Might be worth looking into if you're getting anxious about the wait like I am!