Have you checked if you claimed any credits that might trigger additional review? The Child Tax Credit or Earned Income Credit can sometimes flag returns for verification, especially if your income changed significantly from last year. Also, did you have any investment income this year? That's another common trigger for these reviews.

This happened to me last filing season too! Got my review letter on day 17 after e-filing. The timing is definitely frustrating when you're still within the supposed 21-day window. In my case, it turned out they were just verifying some 1099 income that didn't match exactly with what was reported to them. The good news is that once they actually start reviewing (which can take a few weeks), the resolution is usually pretty quick if everything checks out. I ended up getting my refund about 6 weeks after the original filing date. Hang in there - I know it's stressful when you have investment plans waiting!

My cousin paid Optima $4,500 and they literally just filled out forms he could have done himself. The "reduction" they got was just a standard payment plan anyone can request. Total scam imo.

For your $8,200 debt, I'd strongly recommend trying to work directly with the IRS first before paying thousands to a relief company. At that amount, you have several good options: 1. **Installment Agreement**: You can likely get approved for a payment plan online at irs.gov or by filing Form 9465. With debts under $50,000, the process is streamlined. 2. **Offer in Compromise**: If you truly can't pay the full amount due to financial hardship, you can submit Form 656. The IRS will accept less than what you owe if paying the full amount would create economic hardship. 3. **Currently Not Collectible Status**: If your monthly expenses equal or exceed your income, the IRS may temporarily stop collection efforts. The key is understanding your actual financial situation. Most tax relief companies charge $2,000-$5,000 upfront and often just file the same forms you can file yourself. Given that your debt is only $8,200, paying a relief company could easily cost you more than just setting up a payment plan directly. Start by calling the IRS at (800) 829-1040 or using their online payment agreement tool. If you get overwhelmed, consider a Low Income Taxpayer Clinic for free help rather than a expensive commercial service.

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to echo what everyone else has been saying - this thread has been an absolute godsend! I stumbled across it while frantically searching for solutions to my own payment processor nightmare (different company than payusatax, but same horrifying symptoms). What really struck me was how Grace's initial panic post has evolved into this comprehensive guide for handling processor failures. The pattern is so clear: document everything, stop wasting time with broken systems, switch to IRS Direct Pay immediately, and know that penalty abatement is possible with proper documentation. I was initially skeptical of some of the third-party services mentioned here, but seeing multiple community members come back with genuine success stories after trying them really builds confidence. That kind of honest follow-up is what makes this community so valuable - people aren't just throwing out random suggestions, they're sharing tested solutions. Grace, if you haven't already made the switch to Direct Pay, please do it today! Your documentation from the payusatax failures will be great evidence if needed later, but getting that payment through should be the immediate priority. For any other newcomers dealing with similar processor issues: trust this community's collective wisdom, document everything, and don't let a failing third-party processor ruin your day. The IRS has reliable alternatives that actually work!

As a newcomer to this community, I can't thank everyone enough for sharing such detailed and helpful experiences! I literally found this thread at 2 AM while having a complete meltdown about my own payment processor crisis (different company, same nightmare scenario), and reading through all these stories has been incredibly reassuring. What really stands out is how Grace's original panic post has become this amazing comprehensive guide for handling processor failures. The advice is so consistent across everyone's experiences: document everything, abandon the failing processor immediately, use IRS Direct Pay for quick resolution, and know that penalty abatement is totally doable with proper evidence. I was particularly impressed by how many community members came back to update their posts after initially being skeptical of certain services - that kind of honest follow-up really demonstrates the integrity of this community. It's clear people here share genuine experiences rather than just random suggestions. Following the collective wisdom here, I just submitted my quarterly payment through Direct Pay about 20 minutes ago and got instant confirmation. The relief is incredible! The whole process was so much smoother than I expected - definitely beats the three days I wasted trying to make my original processor work. Grace, I really hope you've gotten your situation resolved by now. Your post has created this incredible resource that's helping so many fellow taxpayers navigate these stressful deadline situations. For any other newcomers facing processor issues: trust this community's advice, make the switch to Direct Pay today, and document everything for peace of mind!

I've been through this exact same situation! Got a mysterious "fed-prov/terr Canada" deposit last year and spent days worrying it was some kind of error that I'd have to pay back. Turns out it was my GST/HST credit that I had completely forgotten about. The key thing to remember is that these payments are based on your previous year's tax return, so your new second job wouldn't have triggered this deposit. But it's great news for next year - having two jobs might actually put you in a better position for certain benefits depending on your total income. I'd strongly recommend calling that automated line everyone's mentioning: 1-800-387-1193. It's honestly a game-changer - no waiting on hold, just enter your SIN and you get all your recent payment details in under 2 minutes. Way better than trying to navigate the CRA website or waiting hours to speak to someone. Most importantly, don't lose sleep over this! If the government deposited money in your account, you earned it fair and square based on your tax filing. These aren't mistakes that need to be repaid. Once you identify what specific benefit it is, you'll know if it's a one-time thing or part of a regular payment schedule. Enjoy the unexpected bonus!

I totally get the anxiety around unexpected government deposits! I went through something similar a few months back and it turned out to be completely legitimate. That "fed-prov/terr Canada" label is actually a good sign - it's the standard identifier for various federal-provincial benefit programs. Since you mentioned picking up a second job recently, you might be wondering if that triggered something, but these payments are actually calculated from your previous year's tax return. So whatever you received was based on your income and situation from last year's filing. The fastest way to get answers is definitely that automated phone line at 1-800-387-1193 that others have mentioned. No hold times, just punch in your SIN and you'll know exactly what the payment was for in minutes. I wish I had known about that when I was panicking about my mystery deposit! One thing to keep in mind - having two jobs now might actually work in your favor for next year's benefits depending on where your total income lands. Some benefit programs have sweet spots where earning a bit more can qualify you for additional credits. Bottom line: if the CRA put money in your account, you earned it. Don't stress about spending it - these aren't accidental overpayments that need to be returned. The government's benefit systems are pretty accurate about eligibility.

Based on what I've observed with approximately 12-15 similar cases in our tax community, the timeline might possibly be somewhat accurate, depending on several potential factors. Most identity verification cases seem to follow a pattern of roughly 14-21 days post-verification, but amended returns could potentially add another 1-2 weeks to that timeline. You might want to mark March 27th on your calendar as a more realistic target date, just to be safe. If you're counting on these funds for something time-sensitive, perhaps consider alternative arrangements.

I went through ID verification with a tax advocate back in November, and honestly, their timeline estimates can be all over the place. In my case, they said 2-3 weeks and it ended up being exactly 19 days from when my advocate submitted everything. The key thing that helped me was getting the advocate to give me a specific case number and having them note in my file that they personally handled the verification submission. One thing to watch out for - make sure your advocate actually submitted everything properly. I had to follow up because my first advocate said they submitted it but nothing showed up in the system for a week. Once it was actually in there, the process moved pretty smoothly. Keep checking your transcript like others mentioned, and don't be afraid to call your advocate directly if March 20th comes and goes without any movement. They have more pull than the regular customer service reps. Good luck! The waiting game with the IRS is absolutely brutal, but you're in the home stretch now.