TBH these identity verification procedures are actually a good thing even though they're annoying. I had someone file a fake return in my name a few years ago and it took FOREVER to fix the mess. Better to verify upfront than deal with actual identity theft later.

I went through this exact same process about 6 months ago! Definitely bring multiple forms of ID like others mentioned - I brought my driver's license, passport, and social security card just to be safe. The appointment itself was pretty straightforward and took about 20 minutes. One thing I wish I had known beforehand - after they verify your identity, your return basically goes to the back of the processing queue again. So even though the verification is quick, you're still looking at several weeks for them to actually process and release your refund. In my case it was about 5-6 weeks from verification to getting the money in my account. The good news is your refund amount won't change - this is purely an identity verification issue, not an audit or anything like that. Just be patient after tomorrow's appointment and try not to stress too much about the timeline. The money will come eventually!

I've been dealing with this exact same frustration! After two weeks of failed attempts, I finally got through last Thursday using a hybrid approach from several suggestions here. Called the main IRS number (1-800-829-1040) at 7:05am Eastern on a Thursday, selected option 2 for personal tax questions, then navigated to the identity verification option. The key was being patient during the automated prompts - I let each message play completely before responding, and when I got the "high call volume" warning, I stayed on the line instead of hanging up. After a brutal 78-minute hold (I literally did laundry and made breakfast while waiting), I finally reached an agent. Make sure you have your Social Security card, driver's license, and prior year tax returns within arm's reach. They asked me to verify my address from 3 years ago, my filing status from 2022, and the exact refund amount from my 2023 return. The whole verification process took about 15 minutes once connected. One thing that helped my sanity - I used speaker phone and just went about my morning routine while holding. Way less stressful than sitting there staring at the phone! Your perseverance will pay off eventually.

I just went through this exact ordeal two weeks ago and finally cracked the code! After 15 failed attempts over 10 days, here's the strategy that worked: **The Golden Combo:** - Called Tuesday at 7:03am EST (not 7:00 - everyone calls then) - Used 1-800-830-5084 (direct TPP line) - When automated system started, I counted to 10 before pressing ANY buttons - Stayed on hold for 1 hour 23 minutes but FINALLY got through! **Critical prep work:** Have your Social Security card, last 3 years of tax returns, and any IRS correspondence spread out in front of you. They asked me about my 2021 filing status, exact AGI from 2022, and even my spouse's middle initial from our joint return. Also had to verify previous addresses - thankfully I keep old lease agreements! **The secret sauce:** The agent mentioned that calling slightly AFTER opening time actually works better because their system gets overwhelmed right at 7am with everyone trying simultaneously. Those few extra minutes let the initial wave pass. **Timeline:** Once verified, she said my return would process within 5-7 business days, and it actually came through in 4 days. Stay strong - you WILL get through! The waiting is brutal but the relief when you finally hear a human voice is incredible. Consider it a test of patience that comes with a nice refund reward at the end! 💪

Don't forget about the year of disposition too! The year you convert a property back to personal use or sell it has special depreciation rules. You generally only get half the annual depreciation in the year you place it in service AND in the year you dispose of it (the "mid-month convention").

Great information in this thread! Just to summarize the key points for @dcac7ecca8da: 1. Your rental property conversion date is November 2014 when tenants moved in, not when you moved out 2. Form 3115 is definitely the right approach - don't amend prior returns 3. You'll get the catch-up depreciation deduction on your 2025 return, but no refunds for prior years 4. The IRS will still treat you as having taken depreciation when you sell (even though you didn't), so filing Form 3115 now prevents you from losing those deductions entirely One additional tip: make sure to keep good records of when you converted the property to rental use and any improvements you've made since then. The IRS may ask for documentation if they have questions about your Form 3115. Also, since you mentioned this is a military move situation, you might want to check if there are any special provisions that apply to your situation, though the standard depreciation rules should still apply to your rental property. Good luck with your filing!

Your dad's situation is definitely fixable, but time is critical here. I agree with the advice to apply for Social Security immediately - don't wait for the tax situation to be resolved first. The SSA can work with his earnings record that employers have been reporting all these years. For the tax side, start by requesting wage and income transcripts from the IRS for all the unfiled years. You can do this online at irs.gov or by calling them (though as others mentioned, getting through can be challenging). These transcripts will show what income was reported by his employers and any taxes withheld. Since he had taxes withheld from his paychecks, he likely doesn't owe anything and may even be due refunds for some years. The key is getting those last 6 years filed to bring him into compliance. Given the complexity and the urgency with his health situation, I'd strongly recommend working with a tax professional who has experience with unfiled returns - they can streamline the process and help avoid costly mistakes. The most important thing is to take action now rather than letting this drag on any longer. Both his Social Security benefits and potential tax refunds are time-sensitive.

I went through almost the exact same situation with my father-in-law two years ago. He hadn't filed in about 18 years and was panicking about Social Security eligibility. Here's what we learned that might help: First, definitely start the Social Security application ASAP as others have mentioned - the earnings record from employers is what matters most for benefits, not tax filings. We were amazed to discover his full work history was already in their system from employer reporting. For the IRS side, we found out that since taxes were withheld from his paychecks the whole time, he actually qualified for what's called "substitute for return" status for many years where the IRS basically filed simplified returns on his behalf. This meant he wasn't in as much trouble as we feared. The real breakthrough came when we got his wage and income transcripts for all the missing years. It showed that for 4 of the years, he was actually owed refunds totaling over $3,200 (though we could only claim the ones from the last 3 years). We ended up only needing to file the last 6 years to get him current, and the whole process took about 3 months working with a tax professional who specialized in unfiled returns. The key was getting started immediately - don't let fear of the IRS paralyze you into waiting longer. Your dad's health situation makes this urgent, but it's absolutely manageable. The government actually wants people to get caught up and claim their benefits!

I've been through this exact same situation! As a fellow Pennsylvania homeowner, I can confirm that sales tax on warranty deductibles is indeed legal here. Pennsylvania taxes most repair services to tangible personal property, which includes home appliances and systems. The inconsistency you're experiencing is super common because warranty companies typically contract with different local service providers for different types of repairs. Each contractor may handle the tax collection differently - some build it into their rates, others collect it separately, and some might not collect it at all (though they're supposed to). One thing that helped me was asking my warranty company for a list of their "preferred contractors" in my area and specifically asking about their tax policies when I call to schedule service. That way I know what to expect on the bill. You might also want to keep records of which contractors charged tax vs. which didn't - if you ever get audited, you'll want to show you paid the proper taxes when they were collected. The $6.50 in tax on a $100 deductible sounds about right for PA's sales tax rate. Welcome to homeownership - it's always something new to learn!

Great question about verifying contractor licensing! In Pennsylvania, you can check if a contractor is properly registered to collect sales tax through the PA Department of Revenue's online business search tool. Just search for their business name or license number - legitimate contractors should have a valid PA sales tax license. However, here's an important distinction: even if a contractor doesn't collect sales tax from you at the time of service, that doesn't necessarily mean they're doing anything wrong. Some contractors pay the sales tax directly to the state themselves and build it into their service rates, rather than collecting it separately from customers. This is called "absorbing the tax" and it's completely legal. The real issue would be if NO sales tax is being paid to the state at all on these transactions. But as the customer, that's not really your responsibility to police - it's between the contractor and the state revenue department. For your own records though, I'd definitely recommend keeping detailed receipts showing which contractors charged you tax separately and which didn't. If you're ever questioned about it, you can show you paid tax when it was collected and relied on the contractors to handle it properly when it wasn't.