Here's what you need to know about 810 freezes: - It's an identity verification freeze - Can take 60-120 days to resolve - Don't call IRS until you get a letter - Check your transcript weekly for updates - Use taxr.ai to understand exactly what's happening (saved me so much time) - Once verified, refund usually processes within 2-3 weeks - Make sure your address is current with IRS Stay patient, it's annoying but it will resolve! 💯

Had the same 810 freeze last year and it was nerve-wracking! The key is patience - I know it sucks but the IRS is just being extra cautious with identity verification. Mine took about 6 weeks total from freeze to refund deposit. Make sure you respond to any letters immediately and keep copies of everything you send them. Also double-check that your address is updated with the IRS since that's where they'll send the verification letter. Hang in there, it will get resolved! 🙏

I went through this process last month and it was much easier than I expected. Here's what happened: Step 1: Called the number on the letter to schedule an appointment (took about 20 minutes on hold) Step 2: Arrived 15 minutes early with my driver's license, social security card, and the letter Step 3: Waited about 10 minutes past my appointment time Step 4: Met with an agent who verified my ID and asked basic questions about my return Step 5: Got confirmation that my identity was verified Step 6: My WMR updated 4 days later Step 7: Received my refund 8 days after verification I was so relieved when it was over! The anticipation was much worse than the actual appointment.

I just went through this process two weeks ago and honestly, everyone here is right - it's way less scary than it sounds! I was a nervous wreck beforehand but the whole thing was pretty smooth. My timeline was similar to what others have shared: made the appointment about 2.5 weeks out, brought my driver's license, SS card, and the verification letter. The actual appointment took maybe 20 minutes total. The agent was really professional and just asked me to confirm some basic info from my return - nothing weird or tricky. The waiting part after is probably the hardest! My transcript updated exactly 5 days later (I was checking obsessively lol), and I got my refund deposited 6 days after that. So about 11 days total from verification to money in my account. One thing that helped my anxiety was calling ahead the day before my appointment to confirm they had everything they needed from me. The person I spoke with was super helpful and reassured me I had all the right documents. You've got this! The hardest part is just getting yourself there - the actual process is totally manageable. 😊

I went through this exact same process last year with my SPX options and futures trading! The confusion is totally understandable - TurboTax's interface for 1256 contracts isn't very intuitive. Here's what worked for me: After searching for "Form 6781" and selecting "Yes" for having 1256 contracts, the key is to use the summary amounts from your 1099-B rather than trying to enter individual trades. Your broker should have a specific section for 1256 contracts that shows your total gains/losses. One thing that tripped me up initially was making sure I didn't double-enter these amounts in both the regular capital gains section AND Form 6781. The 1256 contracts should ONLY go in Form 6781, not in the regular stock trading sections. With $14,500 in realized profits, you'll benefit from that 60/40 split (60% long-term, 40% short-term) regardless of how long you held the positions. TurboTax will calculate this automatically once you enter your totals correctly. The "marked to market" question should be "No" unless you've made a special trader election with the IRS, which most retail traders haven't done.

I just went through this exact situation a few months ago when filing my taxes for last year's SPX options trading. The Form 6781 process in TurboTax definitely isn't as straightforward as it should be! One thing that really helped me was double-checking my broker's classification of the trades. I found that my broker had actually missed categorizing a few of my SPX trades as 1256 contracts on the initial 1099-B, but they issued a corrected version later. You might want to verify that all your SPX options and futures are properly marked as Section 1256 contracts on your forms. Also, keep in mind that if you have any wash sale adjustments related to your 1256 contracts, those will need special handling since the wash sale rules work differently for Section 1256 contracts compared to regular securities. The good news is that once you get past the initial confusion, the 60/40 tax treatment actually works out pretty favorably compared to short-term capital gains rates on regular trades. With your $14,500 profit, you'll definitely benefit from having 60% of that treated as long-term gains. If you run into any snags with the TurboTax interface, don't hesitate to reach out - this community has been really helpful for navigating these more complex trading tax situations!

I went through something very similar last year when my grandmother in Italy gave me $25,000 for my wedding. I was completely overwhelmed by all the different forms and requirements! Here's what I learned: Since your aunt is in Spain (not a US person), you're dealing with foreign gift reporting rules. The good news is that as the recipient, you won't owe any taxes on the gift itself - gifts are never taxable income to the person receiving them. For reporting, you'd only need to file Form 3520 if the total gifts from foreign persons exceed $100,000 in a tax year (for 2024). Since your gift is $28,000, you're well below that threshold, so no Form 3520 required. However, I'd definitely recommend keeping detailed records: get a gift letter from your aunt (doesn't need to be fancy - just stating it's a gift with no repayment expected), keep all wire transfer documentation, and maybe even save some emails or texts about the gift. I learned this the hard way when my tax preparer asked for documentation I almost didn't have! The fact that your aunt already paid taxes in Spain doesn't affect your US tax situation - there's no double taxation issue here since you're not paying any US taxes on the gift anyway.

I've been following this thread and wanted to share my experience as well. I received a $35,000 gift from my uncle in Canada last year and was in a similar panic about reporting requirements. After doing extensive research and consulting with a tax professional, here's what I learned that might help: Even though Canada is a different country than Spain, the same basic principles apply. Since your aunt is not a US person, you're looking at the foreign gift reporting rules, and as others have mentioned, the $100,000 threshold for Form 3520 means you don't need to file anything. One thing I want to emphasize that hasn't been mentioned enough - make sure you understand the difference between a "gift" and other types of transfers. The IRS can be suspicious of large foreign transfers, especially if they can't clearly establish it was truly a gift versus payment for services, loan proceeds, or income. Having that gift letter and family relationship documentation becomes crucial if questions ever arise. Also, don't forget that if you have any foreign bank accounts where this money was held (even temporarily), you might have FBAR reporting requirements if your foreign account balances exceed $10,000 at any point during the year. This is completely separate from the gift reporting rules but something to keep in mind!

Pro tip from someone who's been thru this 2x - after verifying, check your transcript not WMR. WMR is often delayed but transcripts update first. Look for TC 570 (hold) followed by TC 571 (hold released) and finally TC 846 (refund issued). Once you see 846, you'll have $$ in 3-5 days. Hang in there - the system works, it's just slow AF.

I just went through this exact situation two weeks ago! Got my 5071C letter in early April and was freaking out about my car payment deadline. Here's what actually happened: • Verified online through ID.me on April 8th (took about 20 minutes) • Transcript updated with TC 971 on April 15th (showing verification complete) • WMR still showed "processing" until April 20th • Got TC 846 refund issued code on April 22nd • Money hit my account on April 25th So 17 days total from verification to deposit. Way faster than the 9 weeks they quote! The key is checking your transcript like others mentioned - it's your real-time window into what's happening. Don't stress too much about the tuition deadline, most schools have payment plan options if you need to buy a few extra weeks.