One more thing to add to all the great advice here - make sure you keep detailed records of every step you take to resolve this. Document when you called the IRS, what they told you, any reference numbers, etc. I went through something similar two years ago and having a timeline of all my actions really helped when I had to prove to the IRS that I was actively working to resolve the identity theft issue. Also, don't be surprised if this affects your refund timing. Even after you file all the proper identity theft paperwork, the IRS may hold your refund for manual review while they investigate. In my case, it delayed my refund by about 8 weeks, but they did eventually process everything correctly once they confirmed the fraudulent form. The good news is that once you get through this process, the IRS is actually pretty good about flagging your account to watch for future issues. They'll often automatically issue you that IP PIN that someone else mentioned, which makes filing much more secure going forward.

I'm dealing with something very similar right now! Got a 1099-R last week from a company I've never heard of showing a $9,200 distribution that definitely never happened. Like you, I've been working regular jobs (restaurant and part-time at a grocery store) with no retirement accounts or anything like that. What's really helped me so far is creating a detailed timeline of everywhere I've worked and any financial accounts I've had. It's making it much easier to explain to the IRS why this form is obviously fake. I also found out you can request a transcript of all the tax documents the IRS has on file for you by calling 800-908-9946 - that way you can see if there are any other suspicious forms you haven't received yet. The identity theft reporting process is definitely overwhelming at first, but once you get started it's pretty straightforward. The hardest part for me was just accepting that this was going to take time to resolve and that I needed to be patient with the process. At least we caught it before filing our returns! Stay strong - sounds like you're taking all the right steps to handle this properly.

Just to add another perspective - if you're planning to stay remote long-term, it might be worth exploring whether you can transition some of your work to contractor status with your current employer or pick up additional freelance work in your field. Even a small amount of legitimate self-employment income (like $2,000-3,000 annually) can open up the ability to deduct a portion of your home office expenses including that laptop. I made this transition gradually - started doing some weekend freelance projects in my area of expertise, and now I can legitimately allocate about 25% of my home office costs (including my $1,800 computer setup) to my Schedule C business expenses. The key is that the freelance work has to be real and documented - you can't just create fake income to justify deductions. Even if you decide not to pursue self-employment income, definitely follow up on the employer reimbursement suggestion. Many companies are more open to this now than they were pre-2020, especially if you frame it as a retention and productivity benefit.

I went through this exact same situation last year and want to share what I learned after doing a deep dive into the tax code. The previous comments are absolutely correct - as a W-2 employee, you cannot deduct unreimbursed work expenses like your laptop anymore due to the TCJA changes. However, here are some practical steps you can take: 1. **Document everything now** - Keep receipts and records of when/how you use the laptop for work. If your employment situation changes (like picking up freelance work), you'll need this documentation. 2. **Ask about employer reimbursement** - Frame it as a business expense that benefits productivity. Many employers are more receptive now, especially if you can show the laptop will be used long-term for remote work. 3. **Consider the timing** - The TCJA provisions expire after 2025, so unreimbursed employee expense deductions may return for 2026 and beyond (though this depends on future legislation). 4. **Look into state taxes** - Some states still allow these deductions even though federal law doesn't. Check your state's specific rules. The frustrating reality is that right now, W-2 employees are in a tough spot with home office expenses. The tax code assumes employers will provide necessary equipment, which obviously doesn't match the remote work reality many of us face.

This is such a common worry and you're definitely not alone in feeling anxious about it! 😅 I went through the exact same thing a few months back - transcript showing nothing but Informed Delivery had two IRS letters coming. I was absolutely convinced something was wrong with my return. Turns out both letters were completely routine: one was just a form letter about upcoming tax law changes that they send to everyone in certain income brackets, and the other was confirmation that they had received my estimated tax payment (which I already knew about). Nothing scary at all! The transcript delay seems to be pretty normal - from what I've experienced and read here, different IRS systems don't always talk to each other in real time. Sometimes letters get mailed before the codes show up online, especially if they're generated by different departments or are just informational notices rather than account-specific actions. Try not to worry too much until you actually see what's inside those envelopes. In my experience, the really serious stuff tends to come certified mail or with obvious warning language. Regular business mail format letters are usually much more mundane than our anxiety makes them out to be! The waiting is definitely the hardest part though. 🤞

I went through this exact same situation just a few weeks ago and totally understand the anxiety! 😰 My transcript was showing absolutely nothing new for days, but then Informed Delivery showed TWO IRS letters coming. I was convinced it was going to be something terrible. Turns out one letter was just a standard notice about my payment plan being set up (which I had already arranged online), and the other was actually good news - confirmation that my refund had been approved! The funny thing is, my transcript didn't update with the refund information until 3 days AFTER I received the physical letter. From what I've learned talking to other people and reading posts here, the IRS has multiple systems that don't always sync up perfectly. Letters can get generated and mailed from one department while the transcript system (which pulls from the Master File) might not update until later. It's especially common with routine correspondence or letters from different processing centers. Try to remember that truly urgent stuff (like audit notices or major penalties) almost always comes certified mail with scary language right on the envelope. Regular business mail format letters are usually way more routine than we think. I know the waiting is torture, but you'll probably be relieved when you actually see what's inside! 🤞

I've been using PayPal for my tax refunds for the past 3 years and have had mixed results with early deposits. Sometimes I get it a day early, other times right on the DDD. Since you're seeing the 846 code on your transcript, that's definitely a good sign - it means the IRS has officially issued your refund and it's in the pipeline. In my experience, once that code appears, PayPal usually receives and processes the deposit within 1-2 business days. Given that your DDD is 4/12, I'd say there's a decent chance you might see it today (4/11) or early tomorrow morning. PayPal tends to make funds available as soon as they receive them from the Treasury, unlike some traditional banks that might hold until the official date. Keep checking your account - these deposits often hit at weird hours like 3am or 6am!

I've been using PayPal for my tax refunds for the past couple years and the timing has been pretty consistent. Usually get it either exactly on the DDD or 1-2 days early, but never late. Since you mentioned you already see the 846 code on your transcript, that's actually the best indicator - it means the IRS has officially sent the payment and it's just a matter of when PayPal processes it. In my experience, once that 846 code shows up, the money typically hits PayPal within 24-48 hours. Given your DDD is tomorrow (4/12), I'd say there's a good chance you'll see it either later today or first thing tomorrow morning. These deposits often show up at random times too - like 2am or 5am. The waiting is always nerve-wracking but you're definitely in the final stretch!

11 Does anyone know if classes that were paid for in 2023 but taken in 2024 count for the 2023 or 2024 tax year? My 1098-T is showing Box 1 amount for what I paid out of pocket, but I'm confused about which year I claim it since the payment and the actual classes are in different tax years.

Just want to clarify something important about the timing issue mentioned - if your employer paid for Spring 2025 classes in December 2024, those expenses would typically count for your 2024 tax year (not 2025) since that's when the payment was made. However, there's an exception for academic periods that begin in the first three months of the following year. Since Spring 2025 likely starts in January-March 2025, you might have the option to claim those expenses on either your 2024 or 2025 return, but not both. The IRS allows this flexibility for payments made in the last few months of the year for the next year's spring semester. Also, regarding the W-2 reporting - if your employer paid $5,953 and it was through a Section 127 educational assistance program, only the amount over $5,250 (so $703) should appear as taxable income on your W-2. The first $5,250 is tax-free regardless of whether the education is job-related or not.