@Freya Andersen - I totally get your panic! I'm also new to this community and just went through this exact same stress when I used a professional tax preparer for the first time this year. The Form 8879 completely threw me off because I'd never seen it before either. Here's what I learned after doing some research and talking to my preparer: The 8879 is essentially your electronic signature that gives your tax preparer permission to file your return digitally with the IRS. Think of it like signing a paper tax return, except this form serves that purpose for electronic filing. Once you signed it and gave it back to your preparer, you've completed your part of the process! Your preparer should file your return within 1-2 business days of receiving your signed 8879, and the IRS typically sends back an acceptance confirmation within 24-48 hours after that. The form itself doesn't get mailed anywhere - your preparer keeps it in their files as proof they had authorization to e-file for you. I'd definitely recommend calling your preparer tomorrow to ask for confirmation that your return was submitted and accepted by the IRS. You can also independently verify using the "Where's My Refund?" tool on irs.gov - you'll need your SSN, filing status, and exact refund amount. Don't stress - by signing that 8879, you've done everything correctly! The fact that your preparer used this form shows they're following proper e-filing procedures. I was anxious about this for days until I got confirmation, but everything worked out perfectly. You should be all set for the deadline!

@Freya Andersen - I completely understand your stress! I'm also new to this community and just went through this exact same panic when I switched to a professional preparer for the first time this year. The Form 8879 was totally foreign to me too, and I spent sleepless nights wondering if I had missed some crucial step. Here's what I learned that really helped calm my nerves: The Form 8879 is essentially your digital signature that authorizes your tax preparer to electronically file your return on your behalf. Think of it as the electronic equivalent of physically signing a paper tax return. Once you signed it and returned it to your preparer, you've completed your part of the process - the preparer handles everything else from there. Your preparer should submit your return within 1-2 business days of receiving your signed 8879, and the IRS typically responds with acceptance confirmation within 24-48 hours after that. The form itself stays with your preparer as proof they had your authorization to e-file - you don't need to mail anything yourself. I'd definitely recommend calling your preparer tomorrow morning to ask for confirmation that your return was submitted and accepted by the IRS. Most reputable preparers will be able to tell you the exact date and time of acceptance. You can also double-check using the "Where's My Refund?" tool on irs.gov with your SSN, filing status, and exact refund amount. Don't panic - by signing that 8879, you've done everything correctly! The fact that your preparer gave you this form shows they're following proper e-filing procedures. I was anxious about this for days until I understood the process, but you're definitely on track for meeting the deadline. This community has been so helpful in explaining everything - you're not alone in this stress!

I work at an accounting firm and see this issue a lot. One thing nobody's mentioned yet - the IRS has been increasingly strict about documentation for charitable donations in recent years. If you get audited (which is still pretty rare for most people), they absolutely will ask for that acknowledgment letter for donations over $250. The PayPal receipt alone technically doesn't satisfy the requirement because it doesn't specify whether you received goods or services in exchange. My advice - if you absolutely can't get the proper documentation, and you decide to claim the deduction anyway with just the PayPal receipt, make sure you're at least keeping detailed records of your attempts to contact the charity. That shows good faith effort if there's ever a question.

That's great news that you were able to get through to the charity! It's always such a relief when these things work out. Staff changes definitely explain the delayed response - small nonprofits often struggle when they lose someone who was handling donor communications. For anyone else reading this thread who might be in a similar situation, this is a perfect example of why persistence pays off. Sometimes it really is just about timing and finding the right person to talk to. And having that proper acknowledgment letter will definitely give you peace of mind when filing - no worries about audit questions or having to justify your documentation later. Good luck with the rest of your tax prep!

I'm dealing with the exact same codes right now! Filed in March and have been stuck with that 570/810 combo for months. Just got my 971 code on my transcript a few days ago (dated 05/26/2025) so I'm in the same anxious waiting period for the actual notice to arrive. What's been helping me cope is remembering that the 766 credits with future dates on your transcript are actually a positive sign - it means they've already processed your return and calculated your refund, they're just holding it during whatever review they're doing. The EIC verification makes total sense given your 768 code. I set up USPS Informed Delivery after reading the suggestions here and it's been a lifesaver for reducing the daily mailbox anxiety! At least now I know what's coming instead of making multiple trips to check. From everything I've read in this community, most people get their 971 notices within 7-10 business days of the transcript date, and the majority end up being routine review letters that don't require any action from you. The waiting absolutely sucks but try to stay positive - sounds like we're both in the final stretch of this process!

I'm going through almost the identical situation! Filed in early April and have been stuck with that same 570/810 combination for what feels like forever. Just got my 971 code a few days ago too, so I'm right there with you anxiously waiting for that notice to show up in the mail. After reading through all these responses, I'm feeling a bit more optimistic though. It sounds like most people get their 971 notices within 7-10 business days of the transcript date, and from what everyone's sharing, a lot of these end up being routine verification letters - especially when you have EIC claims like we do with that 768 code showing up. The thing that's giving me the most hope is what several people mentioned about those 766 credits with future dates on your transcript. That apparently means they've already done the math and calculated your refund - they're just holding it while they finish whatever review process they're doing. So we're probably in the home stretch! I also took everyone's advice and signed up for USPS Informed Delivery after seeing it mentioned so many times here. Total game changer for reducing the daily mailbox anxiety! At least now I'll know when something's actually coming instead of checking multiple times a day. The waiting is absolutely brutal when you're depending on that refund money, but it really helps to see that so many others have been through this exact same scenario and most of them got resolved within a couple months. Hang in there - sounds like we're both almost at the finish line!

According to the IRS Operations Dashboard (https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/irs-operations), they're currently processing returns received in early March. There's a significant backlog this year due to increased filing volume. The transcript database typically lags behind actual processing by 1-2 weeks. I recommend checking the "Where's My Refund" tool at https://www.irs.gov/refunds as it pulls data from a different system that often updates sooner than the transcript database. If WMR shows your return as received, you can be confident it's in their system despite what the transcript shows.

I completely understand your concern - seeing "no tax return received" on your transcript can be really alarming! But based on what others have shared here, this seems to be a common issue this year. The IRS is dealing with a massive backlog, and their transcript system often lags behind their actual processing system by weeks. Since you filed three weeks ago, you're still well within the normal processing window. I'd recommend checking the "Where's My Refund" tool first - it usually updates before the transcript does. If that shows your return as received, then you know it's safely in their system and just waiting to be processed. Don't stress too much about those home repairs just yet - your refund is probably on its way, even if the transcript doesn't show it!

Quick question - doesn't the AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax) also come into play here? When I exercised my options last year, I got hit with a huge AMT bill even though I didn't sell the shares.

This is a really complex situation that highlights why equity compensation taxation is so tricky! A few additional thoughts to consider: 1. **Documentation is key** - Make sure you have all your original option grant agreements, exercise notices, and acquisition documents. The IRS may want to see these if they question your treatment, especially for QSBS purposes. 2. **State tax implications** - Don't forget that some states have their own rules for stock option taxation that might differ from federal treatment. If you've moved states since receiving or exercising the options, this could add another layer of complexity. 3. **Estimated tax payments** - If the 1099-NEC amount is substantial, you might need to make estimated tax payments to avoid underpayment penalties, especially if this income wasn't subject to withholding. 4. **Consider professional help** - Given the multiple acquisitions, potential QSBS treatment, and the amounts involved, it might be worth consulting with a CPA who specializes in equity compensation. The tax savings from proper QSBS treatment alone could more than pay for professional advice. The good news is that you're asking these questions before filing, which gives you time to get it right the first time rather than dealing with amendments or IRS notices later!