I've been running into this too! What's been working for me is trying different devices - sometimes my phone gets through when my laptop can't. Also noticed that weekends seem to have less traffic if you can wait. The system updates they're doing for tax season are definitely causing chaos but it should stabilize in a few weeks once they work out the bugs.

Yeah this has been happening to me too! Super frustrating when you're trying to get your tax stuff sorted early. I found that clearing cookies and trying again in a few hours usually works. The IRS systems always get overloaded this time of year with everyone checking their refund status and getting transcripts ready for filing. Hang in there - it should get better once they finish their maintenance updates!

I'm going through the exact same thing! Filed my Illinois return in February and I'm still stuck in processing limbo. The most frustrating part is that their website gives you absolutely no useful information - just that generic "still being processed" message that tells you nothing. From reading through all these comments, it sounds like there are several potential issues that could be causing the delay: - Address discrepancies (especially if you moved recently) - Identity verification requirements that they don't notify you about - Random manual reviews they're doing this year - Issues with credits or deductions triggering additional screening I'm going to try a few of the suggestions here - calling first thing in the morning at 8 AM, checking from a desktop computer instead of mobile, and looking more carefully through my mail for any notices that might have looked like junk mail. Has anyone had success with the taxpayer advocate service? I'm wondering if that might be worth trying since we're well past the normal processing timeframes at this point. It's ridiculous that we have to become private investigators just to get our own money back from the state!

I'm dealing with the exact same issue! Filed my Illinois return in late February and have been stuck in that "still being processed" purgatory for months now. It's incredibly frustrating when you can't get any real information about what's actually happening with your return. After reading through all these experiences, I'm going to try several approaches: 1. Calling right at 8 AM tomorrow using that 1-800-732-8866 number 2. Double-checking my mail for any plain envelopes that might have looked like junk mail 3. Verifying my address information is correct in their system 4. Considering reaching out to my state representative's office if the phone calls don't work The most infuriating part is how they expect us to file on time and pay penalties for any delays, but then they can sit on our refunds for months with zero accountability. The lack of transparency in their system is unacceptable. For what it's worth, I've been documenting every attempt to contact them with dates and times. If this drags on much longer, I'm definitely going to file a complaint and escalate through whatever channels are available. Thanks to everyone sharing their experiences and solutions - it's helpful to know we're not alone in dealing with this broken system!

Just wanted to add one more important point that I learned the hard way - make sure to keep detailed records of WHY your spouse qualified as a DEB at the time of inheritance. I'm dealing with this exact situation now where my husband has been on SSDI for years and inherited his father's IRA last year. The financial institution initially set up the account correctly as a DEB inherited IRA, but during a recent review, they questioned whether his SSDI status was sufficient documentation. Even though SSDI recipients generally qualify under IRC Section 72(m)(7), having a complete paper trail made all the difference. I recommend keeping copies of: the original SSDI award letter, recent benefit statements showing payments were active at the time of inheritance, and any medical documentation that was used in the SSDI determination process. This documentation package will save you headaches if the IRS or financial institution ever questions the DEB status. Also, regarding the Roth conversion question - we decided against it in our case because the RMD would push us into a higher tax bracket. Make sure to run the numbers on the tax impact before making that decision!

Great question about partial conversions! Yes, you can absolutely do partial Roth conversions over multiple years to manage the tax impact. In our case, we calculated that converting the full RMD would have pushed us from the 22% bracket into 24%, so instead we're doing smaller conversions each year to stay within our current bracket. For the documentation timing - it's much better to provide the DEB documentation upfront when establishing the inherited IRA. Most financial institutions will ask for it during the account setup process if you indicate the beneficiary qualifies as a DEB. However, if you didn't provide it initially, you can submit it later, but you'll want to do this before taking any distributions to ensure you're following the correct RMD schedule (life expectancy vs. 10-year rule). The key documents to have ready are: the SSDI award letter showing the disability determination date, benefit verification letters showing active payments at the time of inheritance, and Form SSA-1099 showing the benefits received. Having these ready upfront prevents any delays or complications with the account setup. One strategy we're using is taking the required RMD early in the year, then doing a separate Roth conversion later in the year when we have a better sense of our total tax picture. This gives us more control over the timing and tax impact.

One thing nobody has mentioned yet is that you should also check if Sweden has special provisions for artists and entertainers in their US tax treaty. Many countries have what's called an "Artistes and Sportsmen" article (usually Article 16 or 17) that can override the royalty provisions for certain types of income. Also, make sure you're actually considered a tax resident of Sweden and not Denmark as you mentioned being from Denmark in your post. You need to claim treaty benefits based on where you're a tax resident, not your citizenship.

I just want to clarify something from the original post - you mentioned being "based in Sweden" but there might be some confusion about your tax residency status. For the W-8BEN form, what matters is where you're considered a tax resident for treaty purposes, not just where you're currently living. If you're genuinely a Swedish tax resident, then Article 12 of the US-Sweden treaty should apply to your royalties with a 0% withholding rate. However, you need to make sure you meet Sweden's tax residency requirements and that you're actually liable to tax there on your worldwide income. For Part II, line 10, you would write something like "Article 12 - Royalties - 0%" assuming your producer advance and future royalties qualify under this article. One additional tip: keep documentation showing your Swedish tax residency status (like a tax residency certificate from Skatteverket) in case the record label or IRS requests proof later. This is especially important if your residency situation is complex or if you've moved recently. The advance payment structure you described (advance + future royalties) is pretty standard in the music industry and typically qualifies as royalty income under most tax treaties.

Protip: call your local taxpayer advocate if it goes beyond 120 days. They can sometimes help speed things up.

I went through something similar last year! CP05 notices can be frustrating but they're actually pretty routine. The Kansas City office tends to be thorough but fair in their reviews. Since your 810 freeze was already removed, this CP05 is likely just their standard verification process for returns that may have triggered certain filters (could be anything from higher than usual withholding to certain tax credits). The good news is that CP05 reviews are usually more straightforward than other types of holds. They're literally just double-checking the three items they mentioned against your W-2s and other tax documents on file. Most of these clear within 6-8 weeks in my experience, though it can take up to the full 120 days during busy periods. Keep that notice handy with all the reference numbers (CP05, 32y-1040, Caller ID 29H) - you'll need them if you have to call. And definitely keep checking your transcripts weekly like others suggested. You'll see movement there before you get any official notice in the mail.