I've been dealing with this same error code 6000 for the past few days! Super frustrating when you're trying to track your refund. I called that help desk number (888-841-4648) yesterday and they basically just told me it's a "technical issue" and to try again later. Not very helpful tbh. At least now I know it's not just me having problems with their system.

I had the exact same error code 6000 issue yesterday! What worked for me was switching to incognito/private browsing mode and then accessing the Where's My Refund tool. Something about the cached data was causing conflicts. Also make sure you're using the direct link: https://sa.www4.irs.gov/irfof-wmr/login - sometimes the main IRS page redirects weird. Hope this helps while you wait for their maintenance to finish!

I'm currently going through this same process and it's been 8 days since I got the ID.me notification. Reading through everyone's experiences here is really helpful - sounds like I should expect the letter sometime in the next week or so. One thing I'm curious about: does the letter come from ID.me directly or from the IRS? The notification in my account wasn't totally clear about who would be sending it. Also, for those who completed the verification over the phone, did you call the number on the letter itself or the main IRS line? Want to make sure I'm prepared when my letter arrives!

I just went through this process last month and wanted to share my timeline to help others plan. Got the ID.me notification on January 28th, letter arrived February 12th (15 calendar days), and completed verification the same day I received it. One tip I wish I'd known: the letter envelope says "Department of Treasury - Internal Revenue Service" on it, so don't accidentally throw it away thinking it's junk mail! The control number was clearly printed in a box at the top of the letter. I used the phone number provided on the letter itself (not the general IRS line) and got through to an agent in about 20 minutes who walked me through the verification. My ID.me account was fully restored within a few hours. The waiting period is definitely nerve-wracking, but the actual verification process once you have the letter is pretty straightforward. Hang in there!

Just be careful not to count the same expenses twice! I messed this up last year. I included all my reimbursements as income and then deducted all my expenses. But then I realized the staffing agency already reported the full amount (including reimbursements) on my 1099-NEC. So I ended up double-counting the income and got a nasty letter from the IRS. Make sure you look at your 1099-NEC carefully to see if the reimbursements are already included in Box 1. If they are, then deduct the expenses. If they aren't, then don't include the reimbursements as income.

This is exactly the confusion I deal with every tax season! The key thing that helped me was getting a clear statement from my staffing agency about how they handle reimbursements on the 1099-NEC form. Some agencies include reimbursements in Box 1 of your 1099-NEC (making them taxable income that you then deduct), while others exclude them entirely if they follow an accountable plan structure. You really need to check your 1099-NEC first to see which approach your agency uses. I'd recommend calling your staffing agency's payroll department and asking specifically: "Are my travel reimbursements included in the total amount reported in Box 1 of my 1099-NEC?" This will tell you exactly how to handle them on your Schedule C. If they're included in Box 1, report all the income and deduct your actual expenses. If they're excluded from Box 1, don't report the reimbursements as income and don't claim those same expenses as deductions. The most important thing is consistency - whatever approach your agency uses on the 1099-NEC is what you need to follow on your tax return.

When I had IP PIN issues, I realized you can also go to a local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center for help. You need an appointment, but they can look up your correct IP PIN for you if you bring proper ID. Saved me a ton of headaches!

Important note: DO NOT file your return with the wrong year IP PIN! I did this last year and my refund was delayed by over 3 months while they sorted it out. The IRS systems automatically flag returns with mismatched IP PINs as potential fraud.

Can I just say how annoying it is that all this tax stuff isn't taught in school?? I have a master's degree but still had to google "what is an EIN" when I started freelancing. The IRS instructions might as well be written in another language lol

Great question! As others have mentioned, you don't technically need an EIN as a sole proprietor, but I'd definitely recommend getting one for the privacy protection alone. I've been freelancing for about 3 years now and got my EIN right from the start. One thing I'd add is that having an EIN can also make it easier to separate your business finances from personal ones. Even though you're not required to have a separate business bank account as a sole proprietor, many banks prefer an EIN when opening business accounts. This makes tracking your business income and expenses much cleaner come tax time. The application process through the IRS website is straightforward and takes maybe 10-15 minutes. Just make sure you apply directly through the official IRS site (irs.gov) - there are a lot of third-party sites that will charge you fees for something that's completely free from the IRS. Also, since you're making steady income ($1200/month is great!), don't forget about quarterly estimated tax payments. You'll likely owe both income tax and self-employment tax on that freelance income.