Has anyone used H&R Block to help with this kind of problem? I'm wondering if tax prep services can help track down missing W-2s or if I need to do all the legwork myself.

I've been through this exact situation! First, definitely try calling your former employer's HR department directly - they're usually pretty good about resending W-2s to updated addresses. Most companies expect this to happen with former employees. If that doesn't work, here's a tip that saved me: check if you can still access your ADP account. Even after leaving a job, ADP often keeps your account active for tax purposes. Try logging in with your old credentials, and if that doesn't work, use their password reset function with the email you had on file when you worked there. If all else fails, you can request a wage and income transcript directly from the IRS after January 31st. You can do this online through IRS.gov if you can verify your identity, or by calling them (though expect long wait times). The transcript will have all the same information as your W-2. Don't stress too much - this is a common issue and there are several backup options available. Just start with the HR department first since that's usually the quickest solution.

Just wanted to jump in and add my experience to this amazing collection of data everyone has built! I'm currently in week 5 of my 120-day review (filed January 28th, verified February 18th) and like so many others here, I have the 570 code with no 971. What's really encouraging is that my "as of" date just changed yesterday for the first time since this whole process started - exactly what Natalie mentioned earlier about watching for that indicator! While no new codes have appeared yet, it feels like movement is finally happening behind the scenes. This thread has been absolutely essential for my sanity over the past few weeks. When I first got that 570 code, I was convinced I'd made some major error on my return. Reading Paolo's pattern analysis and Miguel's professional insights completely changed my understanding of what's actually happening. The fact that this community has essentially created the definitive guide to these reviews is incredible! For all the newcomers joining this discussion - you're in good hands here. The collective wisdom and support in this thread is better than anything you'll find from official sources. Based on my timeline and everyone else's experiences, most of us should see resolution well before that scary 120-day mark. I'll definitely update when my case finally resolves. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and creating such a supportive community around what can be a really stressful situation! 🙏

As another newcomer to this community, I have to say this thread has been an absolute lifesaver! I just got my 570 code this morning (filed February 16th, verified March 3rd) and was immediately sent into panic mode thinking I'd somehow messed up my taxes. The IRS representative I spoke with gave me the standard "120-day review" line, and I was preparing for the worst. But finding this discussion has completely changed my perspective! Paolo's pattern analysis showing that 570-without-971 cases typically resolve in 30-60 days is incredibly reassuring, and Miguel's professional confirmation of the 4-8 week timeline gives me so much more confidence. It's amazing how this community has essentially decoded the IRS process better than their own official communications! What really stands out to me is how many people have nearly identical experiences - it's clear this is a routine process that just isn't well explained by the IRS. The fact that so many of us are going through the same thing at the same time actually makes me feel better about it being a standard verification rather than something I did wrong. I'm definitely going to follow Natalie's advice about watching the "as of" date for early movement indicators, and Anastasia's update about seeing changes at week 5 gives me realistic expectations for my own timeline. Thanks to everyone for creating such a supportive and informative resource - I'll make sure to report back when my case resolves to add another data point to this incredible collection! 🙏

Just a quick accounting perspective - when you're recording those free assets, make sure you're following proper accounting principles. The journal entry should be: Dr. Fixed Assets (various) $65,000 Cr. Additional Paid-in Capital $65,000 And for the inventory purchased with the loan: Dr. Inventory $275,000 Cr. Due to Shareholder $275,000 This keeps the loan and the contributed assets separate, which will be important for tracking purposes. When you convert to S-Corp, having clean books will make the transition much smoother.

Great question about the accounting entries! For basic bookkeeping purposes, those journal entries are correct and sufficient to get you started. However, you're absolutely right that tracking book-tax differences properly can get more complex. Many small businesses use what's called a "tax provision worksheet" or maintain separate depreciation schedules rather than cluttering up their general ledger with contra accounts. The key is to have a system that lets you easily calculate your tax depreciation vs book depreciation each year. For your situation with the zero-basis assets, I'd recommend setting up a simple spreadsheet that tracks: - Book value and depreciation schedule - Tax basis (zero) and depreciation (none allowed) - Annual book-to-tax adjustment needed This approach keeps your books clean while ensuring you can properly prepare your tax returns. When you convert to S-Corp, your accountant will appreciate having this information organized and readily available. The journal entries Jamal suggested will handle 95% of what you need for day-to-day operations. The more complex tracking can happen outside your main accounting system.

Based on your transcript, the timing actually looks pretty normal for a post-freeze refund situation. The key thing to understand is that even though your freeze (810) was removed on March 30th, your return didn't actually get processed until April 3rd - that's when the real clock starts ticking for refund issuance. The 971 notice code from April 3rd is standard procedure when there's been any kind of account hold. You'll probably receive that letter in the mail explaining what happened, but since the freeze is already resolved, it's more of a "for your records" thing. Your withholding date of April 15th on the transcript is just a system date - it doesn't mean you need to wait until then. The IRS typically issues refunds 1-3 weeks after the processing date (April 3rd in your case), so you should see your $316 hit your account sometime between now and early May. If nothing shows up by May 10th, that's when I'd start making calls. But honestly, your transcript looks clean with no error codes or additional holds, so you should be good to go!

I went through something very similar last year! Had a 810 freeze code that got removed with 811, and like you I was constantly checking my transcript trying to figure out what was happening. The waiting is absolutely nerve-wracking when you're expecting money. From my experience, the timeline others have mentioned sounds about right - I got my refund about 10 days after my return processing date, not from when the freeze was removed. The 971 notice I received just explained that they had temporarily held my refund for "additional review" but everything was resolved. One thing that helped me was setting up direct deposit alerts with my bank so I'd know immediately when anything hit my account. The IRS doesn't always update their tools right away, but the money usually shows up first. Hang in there - your transcript really does look like everything is moving in the right direction! 💪

This is a great question and I'm glad you're being proactive about handling this properly. Based on the discussion here, it sounds like you're actually in good shape since you used a payroll service to issue the W-2. One thing I'd add is that you might want to give your nanny a heads up about this situation now, before tax season gets into full swing. Let them know they may receive both forms but that the Venmo payments were just the delivery method for their W-2 wages, not separate income. You could also provide them with a simple letter stating the total amount paid through Venmo and confirming it represents their employment wages as reported on their W-2. This kind of documentation can be really helpful if they ever need to explain the situation to a tax preparer or the IRS. It's refreshing to see someone taking household employee taxes seriously - a lot of people don't realize they need to handle nannies as actual employees rather than independent contractors.

Thank you for bringing up this important topic! As someone who's dealt with similar household employee situations, I want to emphasize a few key points that might help other families in similar situations. First, you absolutely did the right thing by using a payroll service to handle the W-2 - that's the legally compliant approach for household employees. The method of payment (Venmo vs. direct deposit vs. checks) doesn't change the employment relationship or tax obligations. For 2023 taxes, your nanny likely won't receive a 1099-K unless they received over $20,000 through Venmo with 200+ transactions, so this may not even be an issue for you this year. But it's smart to plan ahead since those thresholds are expected to decrease. One practical tip: consider switching to direct deposit through your payroll service for future payments. It eliminates any potential confusion about 1099-K forms and creates a cleaner paper trail. Most payroll services offer this at minimal cost, and it's actually easier for record-keeping on both sides. Also, make sure you're filing the required Schedule H with your personal tax return and paying the household employment taxes. Since you mentioned you're handling the tax compliance properly through the payroll service, you're probably already on top of this, but it's worth mentioning for other readers who might be in similar situations.