Based on your timeline and the absence of a 971 notice, this appears to be an internal income verification review rather than a request for additional documentation from you. The 570 code without the 971 is actually somewhat reassuring - it typically indicates they're cross-referencing information they already have access to (like employer-reported W-2s or financial institution data) rather than needing you to provide anything new. Your verification process closing on 3/28 followed by the 570 appearing on 4/19 suggests these are separate issues. The first was identity verification (resolved), and this appears to be automated income matching. The May 6th as-of date gives them about 2.5 weeks from when it appeared, which aligns with typical processing times for these reviews. Given that you've already involved your congressman and senator, you're well-positioned if this extends beyond the as-of date. However, most cases like yours resolve automatically within the timeframe they've set. The key indicator to watch for is either a 571 code (which releases the hold) or your as-of date changing again. Try to avoid calling the general IRS line repeatedly before May 6th - it can create conflicting notes in your file. If you absolutely need to call, use the dedicated account services line early in the morning on Tuesday or Wednesday when wait times are shorter.

I'm dealing with my first 570 code too and this thread has been incredibly reassuring! Filed 2/28, completed ID verification in early March, and just got the 570 yesterday with an as-of date of 5/20. No 971 notice here either. What really helped calm my nerves was reading @Anastasia Popova's explanation about automated income matching versus needing additional documentation. I was spiraling thinking they found major errors in my return, but the pattern everyone's describing makes it sound like this is just part of their process this year, especially after verification cases. @Yuki Tanaka - your timeline is super helpful to see laid out like that. The fact that you're only about 2 weeks out from your May 6th date and have congressional backup already in place puts you in a really good position. I'm definitely going to wait and see what happens with my 5/20 date before taking any action. One thing I'm curious about - has anyone here who went through this process noticed if the 570 code typically disappears on the exact as-of date, or does it usually happen a few days before/after? Trying to manage my expectations for when to actually start checking for updates! Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - this community has been way more helpful than any official IRS resource I've found.

I've been following this thread with great interest since I'm dealing with a similar nightmare trying to reach the IRS! After reading through all these strategies, I decided to test a few of them systematically over the past week. Here's what I tried and the results: **Monday 8:00 AM** - Main line (800-829-1040) using @Dylan Cooper's menu path: Disconnected after 45 minutes on hold **Tuesday 1:30 PM** - Spanish line approach from @Amina Sy: Got through in 25 minutes! Agent was very helpful with transfer **Wednesday 10:15 AM** - Business line (800-829-4933) like @Zoey Bianchi suggested: 38-minute wait but got excellent help with rental property questions **Thursday 9:20 AM** - Identity Protection line (800-908-4490) from @Chloe Harris: Only 19 minutes - this seems to be consistently faster! The Identity Protection line has been the most reliable for me. When the automated system asks about identity theft, I select "no" and get routed to general assistance. The agents there have been knowledgeable and patient. One additional tip I discovered: If you get disconnected while on hold, call back immediately and mention you were disconnected from a previous call. Several agents have been able to look up recent call logs and expedite your callback without starting completely over. For complex situations like @Fatima Al-Farsi's with investment properties and foreign income, having your AGI from last year's return ready seems to speed up the verification process significantly. The system is definitely broken, but these alternative numbers really do work better than the main customer service line. Don't give up!

Thank you so much @Liam Sullivan for doing that systematic testing - this is exactly what I needed! Your data-driven approach is incredibly helpful. I'm definitely going to start with the Identity Protection line (800-908-4490) since you got through in just 19 minutes. For my specific situation with investment property sales and foreign income, I'm planning to try @Felix Grigori's advice about leading with the foreign income aspect when I get connected. It makes total sense that agents would be more engaged with complex international tax issues. I've been putting together all my documentation based on everyone's suggestions: - Last year's AGI for verification - All 1099s from property sales - Foreign income statements - List of specific questions about Form 8938 thresholds and depreciation recapture This thread has been a lifesaver - I went from feeling completely hopeless about reaching the IRS to having multiple proven strategies to try. Will report back once I successfully get through and hopefully help the next person dealing with this same frustration! Has anyone had success specifically with questions about foreign rental property depreciation? That's one aspect of my situation I'm still not clear on even after reading Publication 527.

Just want to add another perspective here - while Box 2a shows the taxable amount when Box 2b isn't checked, it's still worth double-checking if you have any special circumstances. I had a similar situation where my 1099-R showed the full amount as taxable, but I had rolled over part of a previous distribution within 60 days that wasn't properly accounted for. Also, make sure to look at Box 4 to see if any federal taxes were already withheld from your distribution. If they withheld taxes, you'll get credit for that on your return, which can help reduce what you owe (or increase your refund). The $2320 will be added to your income, but any withholding in Box 4 works like the taxes withheld from your paycheck.

Just to add some clarity for anyone else reading this thread - Paolo, since your 1099-R shows $2,320 in Box 2a and the "Taxable amount not determined" box in 2b is NOT checked, you're correct that the entire amount is taxable. This will be reported on Line 4a of your Form 1040. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is that you should also check if your state has any special rules for retirement distributions. Some states don't tax retirement income at all, while others have partial exemptions. Also, depending on your total income for the year, this additional $2,320 could potentially push you into a higher tax bracket for the portion that exceeds the bracket threshold. Since this is your first retirement distribution, you might want to consider whether you need to make estimated tax payments if you're planning any future distributions this year. The IRS generally expects you to pay taxes as you earn income throughout the year, not just when you file your return.

I went through this same frustration last year with my small partnership. After trying several options, I ended up going with FreeTaxUSA for around $60. What I liked about it was that it walked me through each section step-by-step and caught a few things I would have missed if I'd tried to do it manually. One thing to consider - if your partnership is really straightforward with just basic income and standard deductions, you might want to check if your state has any free business filing programs. Some states offer free e-filing for small partnerships even when the federal doesn't. It's worth a quick search on your state's tax website. Also, don't forget that the partnership filing fee is a deductible business expense, so factor that into your actual cost calculation. The $50-80 range for software isn't too bad when you consider the time savings and reduced error risk compared to paper filing.

Another option worth considering is TaxSlayer Business - they typically charge around $47 for 1065 filing and K-1 generation. I used them for my small consulting partnership last year and found their interface pretty intuitive for basic returns. One thing that helped me save even more was timing - if you can wait until later in the filing season (like March), many of these services run promotions. TaxAct dropped their price to $35 during a spring promotion, and FreeTaxUSA had a similar deal. Also, since you mentioned you're a simple two-person partnership, make sure you're not overcomplicating things. If you don't have rental properties, multiple business activities, or complex allocations, even the basic versions of these programs should handle everything you need. Sometimes people pay for premium features they don't actually require.

One thing everyone's missing - make sure you check your local regulations too! Depending on your state/city, you might need a business license or to collect sales tax at craft fairs. In my state, you need a "seller's permit" even for occasional craft fairs and have to file quarterly sales tax returns even for small amounts.

This is such great advice from everyone! As someone who just went through this exact situation with my pottery business, I wanted to add one more thing that really helped me. Since you mentioned you're planning to start in January, consider setting up a separate business checking account right away, even if it's just a basic free one. This makes tracking your business expenses SO much easier come tax time. Every yarn purchase, craft fair fee, and gas receipt for business trips goes on that card or through that account. I wish I'd done this from day one instead of trying to sort through my personal expenses later to find the business ones. It also makes you look more professional when paying booth fees at craft fairs. And definitely keep a simple log of what you make and sell - even just "blue scarf - $25" in a notebook. This helps you track which items are profitable and gives you good records for taxes. Good luck with your new venture!